A former Democratic lawmaker from Georgia has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly fraudulently securing almost $14,000 in unemployment benefits meant for the pandemic. This situation reportedly arose after Karen Bennett, who represented District 94 in the state House, notified Governor Brian Kemp on December 30 that she would be “retiring” effective January 1, after serving for 12 years.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg stated in a court filing that Bennett collected $13,940 through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program due to false applications and certifications. According to prosecutors, she applied for these benefits in May 2020, claiming she worked for the Georgia General Assembly and for her own private company, Metro Therapy, which provided home physical therapy.
Bennett asserted that this job was her main source of income and that she could not perform her duties due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, prosecutors argue that in reality, she was not hindered from working; her role was primarily administrative, allowing her to work from home, and the business was still operational during the pandemic.
In the indictment, it was also noted that Bennett had applied for unemployment benefits but was initially denied, leading her to seek aid from the PUA program instead. She indicated in her application that she was last available to work at Metro Therapy on April 10, 2020, claiming she couldn’t get to her workplace because of quarantine restrictions.
Once her PUA benefits were approved, Bennett submitted regular certifications stating she received $300 weekly from the General Assembly while not disclosing other income or actively looking for another job. Contrary to her claims, it appears that she had a job with a church, which provided her with a consistent paycheck throughout the period she applied for benefits.
Bennett has pleaded not guilty to making a false statement and has a bail set at $10,000. A request for comment from her attorney was not immediately answered. In her retirement letter, she expressed pride in her time in the Georgia General Assembly, which, she said, has been a fulfilling journey.
These legal issues come alongside similar charges faced by another Georgia Democrat, Rep. Sharon Henderson, involving unemployment benefit fraud.
