The Florida state lawmaker who introduced the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, as it was nicknamed by opponents, resigned on Thursday, a day after being accused of fraudulently collecting tens of thousands of dollars through a federal Covid-relief program.
State Rep. Joseph Harding, a Republican, announced his retirement “effective immediately,” despite being charged with wire fraud, money laundering, making false claims, and other offences.
According to the six-count indictment, Harding, 35, sought more than $150,000 in Covid-relief loans and obtained around $45,000 in January and February 2021, for a pair of firms that had been dormant in the months preceding the applications.
In a resignation letter addressed to Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and posted on Harding’s campaign Facebook page, he stated that his legal problems, which included a trial in the case scheduled to commence in January, demanded his entire attention.
“It has been a great honour to serve the people of this state and more specifically the people of Levy and Marion Counties,” Harding said. “However, due to legal issues that require my complete focus, it is my opinion that now is the time to allow someone else to serve my district.”
Renner did not reply quickly to a request for comment Thursday night.
According to the indictment, Harding stated in Small Business Administration applications in 2020 that Vak Shack Inc. and Harding Farms had a half-dozen workers and annual revenue of more than $800,000 the previous year. According to state records, the entities were dormant and had no employees.
In court on Wednesday, Harding pleaded not guilty.
