Socialites, get into this: former Florida state lawmaker Joe Harding who sponsored the state’s controversial law nicknamed don’t say gay was recently sentenced to prison for fraudulently collecting Covid-19 pandemic small-business government aid.
The former Republican rep pleaded guilty back in March to several charges, including wire fraud, for fraudulently collecting $150,000 in pandemic relief funds earmarked for small businesses. As many know, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program was designed to provide economic relief to small businesses experiencing a temporary but major loss of revenue. However, some took it as an opportunity to rake up some extra funds. As a result of Harding’s alleged crime, he was initially looking at a maximum sentence of 20 years, but was handed down only four months in federal prison.
After he completes his short time in the slammer, Mr. Harding will have two years of supervised release, the Department of Justice said in a press release. Meanwhile, Harding’s brother-in-law, Patrick Walsh, was also sentenced to prison time for a separate scheme to obtain small-business funds during the Covid-19 pandemic. He was sentenced to more than five years in prison.
“The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Coody in a press release. “However, the defendant’s deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale.”
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More On Joe Harding
Harding became nationally known last year over his sponsorship of the Don’t say gay law. What exactly is it?
The “Don’t Say Gay” bill law refers to legislation that has been proposed in certain jurisdictions. This type of bill aims to restrict or prohibit the discussion of LGBTQ+ topics and issues in schools or educational settings. The specific provisions and scope of such laws can vary, but they generally aim to limit or exclude LGBTQ+ inclusive education and discussions. It’s important to note that the term “Don’t Say Gay” is not an official or legal name for any specific law, but rather a colloquial term used to describe such legislation.
Back in April, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added more to his agenda targeting the LGBTQ+ community when the state board approved an expansion of the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The new rule adds to the existing Parental Rights in Education law, enacted in March 2022, that bans public schools from teaching or discussing gender or sexual orientation from kindergarten through the third grade. The law also blocks discussing these topics in a way that is not “age” or “developmentally” appropriate. The new rule extends the provision of the law for students through 12th grade.
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