Florida GOP Rep. Joe Harding Charged In 6-Count Indictment Including Money Laundering And Wire Fraud, Faces Decades In Prison

Florida Phoenix

December 8, 2022

Joe Harding, the Florida House Republican who sponsored the Parental Rights in Education bill during the 2022 legislative session, has been indicted on six counts for alleged wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements that could put him behind bars for decades if found guilty.

According to a press release issued by the Dept. of Justice, the indictment alleges that between Dec. 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021, Harding committed two acts of wire fraud by participating in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) and for obtaining coronavirus-related small business loans by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, “and for the purpose of executing such scheme, caused wire communications to be transmitted in interstate commerce.”

The indictment goes on to allege that Harding made and caused to be made false and fraudulent SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications and made false representations in supporting loan documentation in the names of “dormant business entities” submitted to the SBA.

The indictment further alleges that Harding obtained fraudulently created bank statements for one of the dormant business entities used as supporting documentation for one of his fraudulent EIDL loan applications. By this conduct, “the indictment alleges that Harding fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain more than $150,000 in funds from the SBA to which he was not entitled.”

Harding is also charged with two counts of engaging in monetary transactions with funds derived from unlawful activity related to his transfer of the fraudulently obtained EIDL proceeds into two bank accounts, and two counts of making false statements to the SBA.

The maximum terms of imprisonment for wire fraud are 20 years; for money laundering 10 years, and making false statements 5 years, according to the Department of Justice.

Harding posted a statement Wednesday night on his Facebook page.

Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner released a statement saying that he will remove Harding from all his committee assignments.

“After consultation with Rep. Harding regarding his indictment, I am temporarily removing him from his committee assignments to allow him time to focus on this matter,” Renner said.

“In America, we adhere to the rule of law and, as such, Rep. Harding is presumed innocent and will have the opportunity to plead his case before a court. Since the indictment does not relate to any aspect of his legislative duties, any further questions should be directed to his legal counsel.”

Harding, 35, was first elected to the Florida House representing parts of Levy and Marion counties in 2020 and won reelection last month. Renner named him to serve on six committees and as vice chair for two of them — Health & Human Services and PreK-12 Appropriations.

Harding was House sponsor during the 2022 session of the Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by its critics. The law allows parents to sue if a school district withholds certain information about their child’s well-being or if their child is exposed to instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity deemed not “age-appropriate.”

Opponents said the legislation would have a chilling effect in Florida classrooms regarding LGBTQ issues and students. A lawsuit that challenged its constitutionality was tossed out by a federal judge in October but was refiled in federal court last month.

Harding’s trial is scheduled to take place on Jan. 11, 2023 at the U.S. courthouse in Gainesville before U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor.

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