Key Takeaways
- Karen Bennett, a former Georgia lawmaker, faces federal indictment for alleged fraud related to COVID-19 assistance.
- Bennett pleaded not guilty to falsely claiming $13,940 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits.
- Prosecutors allege she misrepresented her ability to work while quarantined, claiming she couldn’t operate her business.
- Bennett was released on a $10,000 bond, following her not guilty plea.
- Another lawmaker, Sharon Henderson, also pleaded not guilty to theft related to COVID-19 relief, and was similarly released on a $10,000 bond.
Former state Rep. Karen Bennett, D-Stone Mountain, became the second Georgia lawmaker to be indicted in federal court in the past month over alleged fraud concerning COVID-19 federal assistance.
Bennett, who resigned her seat effective Dec. 31, pleaded not guilty Monday to allegations by federal prosecutors that she made false statements in writing to obtain $13,940 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in 2020.
Bennett allegedly claimed she could not operate her physical therapy business while quarantined at home, but prosecutors allege her role was administrative and that she could work from home.
The U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Theodore S. Hertzberg, filed a false statements charge against Bennett Monday.
A judge released her on a $10,000 bond after she pleaded not guilty.
Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington, pleaded not guilty Dec. 8 to theft of government funds in connection with COVID-19 relief, and was also released on a $10,000 bond.
Henderson was still listed as a state representative on the Georgia General Assembly website as of Tuesday.
This article is available through a partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Association’s nonprofit, tax-exempt Educational Foundation.
“Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. It’s keeping your word, being honest, and resisting the urge to throw out your moral compass when it becomes inconvenient.”
Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for Capitol Beat News Service. He is a journalist with over 20 years experience.
