Former Florida State Rep. Joe Harding, best known as the author of the anti-LGBTQ “Don’t Say Gay” law in his state, gave his first major interview since being sentenced to 4 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID funds. He told Fox News he takes “full responsibility” for his actions while at the same time blaming his brother-in-law. https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1736322327590093294 From Fox News:
Harding explained that his legal problems arose when his brother-in-law, whom he says “committed pretty massive fraud totaling over $8 million,” approached him during a vulnerable time of his life in 2020 and misled him into getting involved in a scheme where false information was included on a COVID loan form.
“I was not aware what he was doing, but I listened. I listened to him and, you know, allowed myself to get influenced and really, in many ways, get conned and manipulated by him,” Harding said. “That would be the right way to put it, and he actually applied for the loans with my permission to apply for a loan. But he knew how to do the work, knew how to manipulate it.
“Unfortunately, you know, I allowed him, but he walked me into this issue. And I think that’s probably the hardest thing, you know, through this process, is that you don’t shed blame, I’m not shedding blame, but I think the judge said it pretty clearly in the sentencing hearing that, you know, he doesn’t believe that I’d be in this position if it wasn’t for my brother-in-law.”
“Harding made it clear he takes responsibility for his actions” by repeatedly blaming it all on his brother in law? And claiming if he were an average public official he wouldn’t have been treated this way for fraudulently stealing public funds? Where is he taking responsibility?
— Sharon Wheeler (@shawheel) December 17, 2023
‘I’m all about taking responsibility for my actions.’ Also ‘My brother in law was the criminal. He talked me into it. I didn’t know what was going on.’
— Bomber22 (@probe2202) December 17, 2023
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