Sentencing For FL’s “Don’t Say Gay” Author: Oct 19th

Gainesville’s CBS affiliate reports:

Federal prosecutors say former state Rep. Joe Harding betrayed the “public’s trust” and should be sent to prison. Harding’s employers and one of his brothers paint a picture of a hard-working family man who regrets fraudulently applying for business loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor is poised to decide Harding’s punishment after the Ocala Republican pleaded guilty in March to charges of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements.

Winsor will hold a sentencing hearing Thursday in Gainesville, with prosecutors saying in an August sentencing memorandum that Harding should go to prison after “bilking the federal government of $150,000.”

Read the full article.

Winsor formerly worked as Florida Solicitor General under cultist former AG Pam Bondi. In 2018, Trump nominated him to the federal bench but he did not advance. Trump tried again in 2019 and Winsor was confirmed by the Senate in a 55-44 vote. Joe Manchin was the only Democrat who voted to confirm.

Ten months after making it private, Harding revived his Twitter account, the bio of which boasts of his “Don’t Say Gay” bill. In January 2023, Harding’s brother-in-law was sentenced to 5.5 years on similar COVID fraud charges. Harding’s lawyer has pleaded for leniency because his client returned the stolen funds after being caught.

Character letters were written on behalf of former state representative accused of taking out fraudulent Covid-19 business loans. https://t.co/80QGu5HzgU

— WCJB TV20 News (@WCJB20) October 14, 2023