From Fox News: A former Georgia state Democrat lawmaker was federally charged for allegedly fraudulently obtaining nearly $14,000 in coronavirus-era unemployment benefits.
The development comes after Karen Bennett, who used to represent state House District 94, wrote a letter to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Dec. 30 announcing that she would be “retiring” from her position on New Year’s Day after 12 years of service, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
“As a result of the false application and certifications, Bennett collected a total of $13,940 of PUA [Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program] benefits and federal supplements to which she was not entitled,” Theodore Hertzberg, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, wrote in a court filing this week.
Prosecutors allege the former representative applied for PUA benefits in May 2020 and disclosed that she worked for the Georgia General Assembly and ran Metro Therapy, a private business where her role consisted “of providing in-home physical therapy services.” They said that in the application, Bennett claimed the job was “her primary occupation and primary means of livelihood” and the “pandemic prevented her from performing any service in connection with” Metro Therapy.
🚨 BREAKING: Yet ANOTHER Democrat lawmaker has just been indicted for FRAUD
GA State Rep. Karen Bennett, a strong proponent of BLM, is accused of scamming COVOD relief funds
The Democrat Party is the party of FRAUD. pic.twitter.com/YHNyDqkPzG
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 6, 2026
BREAKING: Georgia State Rep. Karen Bennett (D) indicted for allegedly fraudulently obtaining covid unemployment benefits pic.twitter.com/ZH4PwD88d5
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 6, 2026
READ MORE from Fox News.
Bennett is the second George Democrat state lawmaker indicted for pandemic fraud. Last month, the DOJ indicted Georgia State Rep. Sharon Henderson. Henderson allegedly collected $17,811 of pandemic unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled as a result of false statements in her application
BUSTED! Democrat state Rep arrested, charged with pandemic unemployment fraud
And in Florida, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) was hit with a federal indictment in November and charged with stealing $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to support her 2021 congressional campaign.
All three are Black women.
BREAKING: Democratic Rep. accused of stealing $5M in FEMA funds
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