ATLANTA (AP) — A second former Georgia state House member has been accused of lying to collect federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
Federal prosecutors filed charges Monday against Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain, accusing her of one count of making false statements to collect $13,940.
Bennett waived indictment, pleaded not guilty, and was released on $10,000 bail after a Monday court appearance.
Her lawyers did not immediately respond for comment. Waiving indictment in federal court can often precede a guilty plea.
Bennett, a Democrat, resigned from the House on Thursday after being in office since 2012, representing parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
She is the second Democratic House member to be charged with false statements to obtain federal unemployment assistance. Rep. Sharon Henderson, another Democratic lawmaker from Covington, was indicted in December on charges of theft of government funds, accused of improperly collecting $17,811 in benefits. Henderson remains in office while on bail.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg noted in December that other Georgia lawmakers are also under investigation. The extent of further charges beyond Bennett's remains unclear.
According to prosecutors, Bennett, a physical therapist, falsely claimed in 2020 that she was unable to work due to quarantine restrictions, while she was running her own business from home. Their evidence suggests her company continued operating and generating income despite previous interruptions.
Additionally, it is alleged that she failed to disclose receiving $905 weekly from church-related work, as she is a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The federal government's pandemic unemployment benefits program was designed to assist individuals who lost employment due to COVID-19. Applicants needed to certify their unemployment status weekly to claim benefits.
As the Georgia General Assembly prepares to convene, Democrats are projected to start the session with 79 members out of 180. In a related announcement, state Rep. Lynn Heffner of Augusta also resigned, citing damage from Hurricane Helene.
Governor Brian Kemp is expected to call special elections to fill the vacancies left by Bennett and Heffner, although it's uncertain if new representatives will be in place before the regular legislative session concludes.
Federal prosecutors filed charges Monday against Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain, accusing her of one count of making false statements to collect $13,940.
Bennett waived indictment, pleaded not guilty, and was released on $10,000 bail after a Monday court appearance.
Her lawyers did not immediately respond for comment. Waiving indictment in federal court can often precede a guilty plea.
Bennett, a Democrat, resigned from the House on Thursday after being in office since 2012, representing parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.
She is the second Democratic House member to be charged with false statements to obtain federal unemployment assistance. Rep. Sharon Henderson, another Democratic lawmaker from Covington, was indicted in December on charges of theft of government funds, accused of improperly collecting $17,811 in benefits. Henderson remains in office while on bail.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg noted in December that other Georgia lawmakers are also under investigation. The extent of further charges beyond Bennett's remains unclear.
According to prosecutors, Bennett, a physical therapist, falsely claimed in 2020 that she was unable to work due to quarantine restrictions, while she was running her own business from home. Their evidence suggests her company continued operating and generating income despite previous interruptions.
Additionally, it is alleged that she failed to disclose receiving $905 weekly from church-related work, as she is a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The federal government's pandemic unemployment benefits program was designed to assist individuals who lost employment due to COVID-19. Applicants needed to certify their unemployment status weekly to claim benefits.
As the Georgia General Assembly prepares to convene, Democrats are projected to start the session with 79 members out of 180. In a related announcement, state Rep. Lynn Heffner of Augusta also resigned, citing damage from Hurricane Helene.
Governor Brian Kemp is expected to call special elections to fill the vacancies left by Bennett and Heffner, although it's uncertain if new representatives will be in place before the regular legislative session concludes.
