(The Center Square) – Federal prosecutors said Monday a Georgia state representative lied on federal documents to collect $17,811 in unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington, is charged with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. She first filed for federal pandemic unemployment benefits in June 2020 while she was campaigning for her Georgia House seat and said on the application she was employed by Henry County Schools, prosecutors said.
“Although Henderson had worked as a substitute teacher for Henry County Schools for five days in 2018 (almost two years prior), she had not worked for Henry County Schools since then,” the release said. “Additionally, the Substitute Teacher Agreement Henderson signed in 2018 included an acknowledgment that substitute teachers are not eligible to draw unemployment wages.”
Henderson also said her place of employment closed because of the COVID-19 emergency, according to federal prosecutors. She filed weekly certifications claiming she couldn’t work because of the pandemic, eight of those after she was sworn in as a state representative.
“It is shocking that a public official would allegedly lie to profit from an emergency program designed to help suffering community members,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Politicians who violate the public trust and steal from the needy to enrich themselves will be held accountable.”
TCS was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from Henderson through her House email.
