“Don’t Say Gay” Lawmaker Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud

Joseph Harding, the former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the homophobic  “Don’t Say Gay” law in 2022 pleaded guilty Tuesday to committing $150,000 in COVID-19 relief fraud. Harding resigned from the Florida House last December, just 24 hours after prosecutors announced his indictment. From the Associated Press:

Joseph Harding, a 35-year-old Republican, pleaded guilty in Gainesville federal court to wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud, according to court records.

He faces up to 35 years in prison at a hearing scheduled for July 25.

Harding became nationally known last year over his sponsorship of a law that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

As I reported earlier today, Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration is now aiming to expand the “Don’t Say Gay” law to ban mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in all grades – kindergarten through 12th. Harding’s brother-in-law was sentenced to five and a half years in prison two months ago for defrauding the government of over $7.8 million in COVID-19 relief funds. https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1638564328478572546