Florida state Rep. Joe Harding, a Republican allied with DeSantis, has announced his resignation — effective immediately — after he was charged with offenses including wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements for trying to obtain over $150,000 in federal relief funds connected to the COVID-19 pandemic under false pretenses.
Harding sought the money — successfully obtaining at least some of what he was after — in the names of two businesses that were no longer actually functional. Neither entity had any employees or income in the 12 months prior to a late January 2020 date recognized by federal authorities as the starting point of the COVID-19 pandemic, although he claimed hundreds of thousands in income and multiple employees at each. He also used falsified bank statements headed with the name of at least one of the defunct entities in making his applications. Among his charges were allegations of engaging in financial transactions with funds taken from illegal activity because of transfers Harding made of tens of thousands he obtained in federal funds. Harding is set to go on trial in federal court in Florida early next year.
Prior to his resignation, he exited his committee roles in the House, where he completed a stint on a panel dealing with Congressional redistricting in the state following the last census, among other responsibilities. Harding, who was first elected in 2020, has pleaded not guilty. He could face up to decades in prison and has also claimed he has repaid the funds he received from the federal government. “I believe in Floridians and want what is best for them, and I believe their leaders need not be encumbered by distractions that are mine alone,” Harding said in a portion of his statement announcing his resignation reported on by POLITICO. A special election will now be required to fill his spot in the legislature.
Harding sponsored the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis signed and championed that sharply restricts classroom discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity. It mirrors other eventually blocked legislation DeSantis signed that limited the teaching of basic concepts like white privilege and affirmative action in both educational and workplace environments, with civil penalties possible for those found in violation.
Following prosecutors revealing the case against Harding, some have recirculated past social media comments he made that were sharply critical of Planned Parenthood affiliates in response to allegations of improperly obtaining federal funds related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Release the dogs, this is unacceptable!” Harding insisted in a Facebook post from the middle of 2020. He has seemingly taken down at least the bulk of his social media presence in connection to the new criminal case, but the post was captured via screenshot.
When Planned Parenthood affiliates were accused of improperly receiving coronavirus stimulus funds, Florida Republican State Rep. Joe Harding said to “release the dogs.”
Harding, who sponsored the "Don't Say Gay" bill, was just charged with COVID relief fraud. pic.twitter.com/i6FyNaaakd
— Douglas Soule (@DouglasSoule) December 8, 2022
