Georgia House representative Karen Bennett accused of unemployment fraud

Georgia Congressman Resigns Amid Fraud Allegations

The second Georgia congressman accused of making false claims to receive federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic has announced his retirement. Karen Bennett, from Stone Mountain, roughly 32 miles from Atlanta, is facing charges for allegedly making a false statement regarding her eligibility for benefits.

As of Monday, $13,940 has been raised for her legal situation. During her initial court appearance, Bennett opted to waive the charges, leading to her release on a $10,000 bail while pleading not guilty. It’s worth noting that in federal court, waiving charges often indicates a forthcoming guilty plea.

Having served since 2012, Bennett, a Democrat, resigned on Thursday, representing parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

Bennett expressed pride in her work, stating in her resignation letter, “I am proud of the work the Georgia General Assembly has accomplished in coming together to advance policies that strengthen our state and improve the lives of all Georgians.” She added that serving in her role “has truly been a labor of love” and that she would miss it greatly.

Prosecutors allege that Bennett, who works as a physical therapist, lied about her ability to work in 2020, claiming she was unable to do so due to quarantine measures. However, they’re asserting that she held an administrative role with Metro Therapy Providers and continued to work from her home office.

Furthermore, they argue that Metro Therapy was operational after a temporary pause during the pandemic and point out that Bennett was receiving a weekly salary of $905 from her position as a pastor at the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bennett is the second Democratic congressman in Georgia to face charges for making false claims to secure federal funds, with Rep. Sharon Henderson of Covington having been indicted in December for similar allegations. Henderson allegedly collected $17,811 in federal unemployment benefits and remains employed while out on bail. Governor Brian Kemp has yet to appoint a review board to assess whether Henderson should be suspended from her position.

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

With the beginning of this legislative session, Democrats are anticipated to have 79 members in the 180-member House, following the resignation of state Rep. Lynn Hefner of Augusta earlier this week. Hefner cited significant damage to his home from Hurricane Helen in 2024, leading to what he described as a “stalemate” in rebuilding efforts.

Kemp now faces the task of calling a special election to fill the vacancies left by Bennett and Hefner, though it remains uncertain if their successors will be positioned before the current legislative session concludes.