Georgia House representative Karen Bennett accused of unemployment fraud

Georgia Congressman Announces Retirement Amid Fraud Charges

A second congressman from Georgia has decided to retire as he faces accusations of fabricating claims to obtain federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic.

Karen Bennett, hailing from Stone Mountain, about 32 miles from Atlanta, is reportedly at the center of this legal issue. Allegedly, she made false statements to secure $13,940 in benefits, as noted by the Associated Press.

During her initial court appearance, Bennett opted to waive the charges, releasing her on $10,000 bail after pleading not guilty. In federal proceedings, waiving charges can often be a step before a guilty plea.

On Thursday, Bennett, a Democrat who has represented parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties since 2012, announced her resignation.

In a letter shared with FOX 5 Atlanta, she expressed pride in the work done by the Georgia General Assembly, stating, “Serving in this capacity has truly been a labor of love, and I will miss it greatly.”

Prosecutors allege that, in 2020, Bennett, a physical therapist, claimed she was unable to work due to quarantine restrictions. However, they assert that she held an administrative position at Metro Therapy Providers and worked from home instead of treating clients. Further complicating her case, she allegedly neglected to disclose that she was receiving a weekly salary of $905 from her role as a pastor at the African Methodist Episcopal Church, while the therapy business continued to operate after a brief hiatus.

Bennett joins another Democratic congressman, Sharon Henderson of Covington, who was indicted in December on similar charges of theft of government funds. Henderson is accused of wrongfully collecting $17,811 in federal benefits but remains in office while out on bail. Meanwhile, Governor Brian Kemp has yet to establish a review board to assess whether Henderson should face suspension from her state position.

During the pandemic, the federal government repurposed state employment systems to provide special unemployment benefits for those who lost jobs due to COVID-19.

As the legislative session begins next week, Democrats are left with 79 members in the 180-member House after state Rep. Lynn Hefner also stepped down earlier this week, citing significant damage to his home from Hurricane Helen and a standoff in rebuilding efforts.

Kemp now faces the task of calling a special election to fill the vacancies left by Bennett and Hefner. It’s still uncertain if new representatives will be in place before the regular legislative session concludes.