Georgia State Rep Karen Bennett (Credit: Instagram)
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.
(Read more: Fox News, 1/6/2026) (Archive)
🚨BREAKING: Democrat Georgia State Rep. Karen Bennett federally indicted for fraud.
Bennett—a Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police activist is the 2nd GA lawmaker charged with defrauding taxpayers in the last month.
The entire Democratic Party are fraudsters. pic.twitter.com/1PutMATAB5
— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) January 6, 2026