This story was updated Jan. 6 at 4:05 p.m.
Former Democratic Georgia state Rep. Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain has been charged with pandemic-era unemployment fraud, not long after she resigned from her seat, making her the second Democrat from the Georgia State House to be accused of such charges.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Theodore Hertzberg says Bennett collected almost $14,000 to which she wasn’t entitled.
Court documents say that, in addition to the Georgia General Assembly, she claimed that she was an employee of an in-home therapy company she owned and that quarantine rules kept her from working. But prosecutors argue that was a lie, as Bennett worked from a home office and did not see clients in person.
Prosecutors also allege Bennet didn’t disclose that she was receiving weekly pay from a church.
After pleading not guilty and being released on a $10,000 bond on Monday, a court filing on Tuesday shows that a change-of-plea hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 21.
Democratic state Rep. Sharon Henderson of Covington was indicted in December on similar claims. Unlike Bennett, she’s currently still in office. Hertzberg previously told WABE Henderson’s indictment would likely not be the last and that more lawmakers were under investigation.
Karen Bennett served in the Georgia House of Representatives for 13 years before resigning in a letter to Gov. Brian Kemp dated late last month. She didn’t offer any reason for her departure in the letter.
Separately, Democratic state Rep. Lynn Heffner of Augusta also resigned effective Monday. She said damage to her home from Hurricane Helene has created too much uncertainty to allow her to remain in her constitutionally required district.
With the legislative session gaveling in on Jan. 12, that leaves House Democrats down two people, meaning the governor will have to call special elections to fill the seats.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said Bennett was indicted. Bennett, in fact, waived her right to an indictment by a grand jury.
