Former Florida lawmaker who sponsored ‘Don’t Say Gay’ sentenced to prison for COVID-19 relief fraud

Florida Man Arrested After Vandalizing Church And Baptizing Himself

Acknowledging wrongdoing and expressing remorse can be a step toward personal accountability and potential rehabilitation. However, legal consequences and penalties are determined by the judicial system, and any expression of remorse may be taken into account during the legal process but does not necessarily mitigate the consequences of criminal activities.

It seems that former Florida state lawmaker Joseph Harding has been sentenced to four months in federal prison for his involvement in acquiring over $150,000 in Small Business Administration loans by providing false information on loan applications. His guilty plea in March to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud led to this sentencing. In addition to the prison term, he will also face two years of supervised release after his sentence is served. This case underscores the legal consequences individuals can face for fraudulent activities related to COVID-19 relief funds.

Brian J. Payne, a special agent in charge at the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, said Harding “egregiously betrayed the public trust by stealing from COVID relief funds meant to help the very people who elected him.”

Harding has drawn the national spotlight before, as a sponsor of the controversial legislation that banned certain instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom that opponents dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The legislation officially named the “Parental Rights in Education” law, signed by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, set off a national firestorm and drew immediate pushback from LGBTQ advocates.