Florida Rep. Joe Harding pleaded not blameworthy during an proceeding connected Tuesday, the aforesaid time the expansive assemblage indicted him, and said helium has repaid the loans. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican authorities Rep. Joe Harding resigned from bureau 1 time aft a national expansive assemblage indictment against him was unsealed alleging helium defrauded a national pandemic-related tiny concern indebtedness program.
“Today, I americium resigning from my presumption for the aforesaid 2 reasons: I emotion people, and I emotion Florida,” Harding said successful a statement. “I judge successful Floridians and privation what is champion for them, and I judge their leaders request not beryllium encumbered by distractions that are excavation alone.”
His resignation is effectual immediately.
The Justice Department on Wednesday unsealed an indictment alleging Harding, a 35-year-old Ocala Republican, utilized 2 long-defunct companies connected applications for pandemic loans done the Small Business Administration. He is facing six national counts, including 2 connected ligament fraud charges, and a full of 35 years successful jailhouse if convicted connected each.
Harding pleaded not blameworthy during an proceeding connected Tuesday, the aforesaid time the expansive assemblage indicted him, and said helium has repaid the loans. He was released connected enslaved soon aft the preliminary hearing.
The indictment alleges helium fraudulently received $150,000 successful national pandemic assistance through. His proceedings is acceptable for Jan. 11 successful Gainesville national court.
Shortly aft the indictment was unsealed Wednesday, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner announced Harding was removed from his committee posts. He said due to the fact that the allegation did not impact his work arsenic a subordinate of the Florida House, helium would not remark further.
The indictment unsealed by the national authorities claims that Harding listed The Vak Shack and Harding Farms, some companies that had been inactive since 2017, connected exertion for SBA loans designed to assistance tiny businesses past the pandemic. He besides lied astir their gross numbers, slope statements, and worker counts to unafraid the loans, national investigators allege.
The Marion County typical was archetypal elected successful 2020 and is champion known for being the House sponsor for authorities that banned treatment of sex individuality oregon intersexual predisposition successful classrooms up until 3rd grade. The bill, which opponents branded the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, sparked protests and got nationalist attention.
A peculiar predetermination volition present beryllium held to capable his vacant seat.
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