Name: DOJ fights COVID fraud in Georgia
Uploaded: 2026-01-12T18:31:17.675Z
Duration: 3 min 53 s
Description: Jason Mattera joins to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice investigating Democratic lawmakers in Georgia for COVID fraud.

Jason Mattera joins to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice investigating Democratic lawmakers in Georgia for COVID fraud.

Georgia

The Department of Justice has indicted two Georgia state representatives, Karen Bennett and Sharon Henderson, on charges related to alleged COVID-19 relief fraud. Bennett is accused of fraudulently obtaining nearly $14,000 in pandemic unemployment assistance by claiming her business was disrupted by the pandemic, despite reportedly working from home. Henderson allegedly received over $17,000 in relief funds by claiming employment with a school district she had not worked for since 2018. 

Both lawmakers have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The indictments are part of a broader effort by federal authorities to address fraud and corruption related to pandemic relief programs. Officials emphasized that prosecution should occur regardless of political affiliation to ensure accountability for misuse of taxpayer funds.

DOJ fights COVID fraud in Georgia

Crime correspondent Jason Matera has the details. Good morning to you, Jason. Good morning, John and Deneen. And yeah, there's been a general hostility amongst progressives with this administration trying to root out fraud and corruption. And as these indictments suggest, perhaps that resistance has more to do with the fact that Democrat lawmakers themselves have allegedly been trying to get their hands on some taxpayer cash. Since 2013, Karen Bennett served in the Georgia House of Representatives, but that run ended abruptly on January 1st, 2026, when she resigned. Four days later, a possible reason surfaced. The Justice Department indicted Bennett, accusing her of making false statements in an effort to bag COVID relief money in 2020. Specifically, prosecutors allege that she received pandemic unemployment assistance by claiming that the shutdown had disrupted her primary source of income because she was unable to reach her place of employment due to quarantine measures imposed at the time. That claim centers on her work with a company she owned called Metro Therapy, which supposedly provides at-home physical therapy services. But according to the indictment, Bennett was neither prevented from working nor from getting to work. In fact, authorities say her role at Metro Therapy was administrative, and that she performed those duties from her residence. Or as the government put it, she was not prohibited from reaching her home office because of the pandemic. In the end, federal officials say Bennett's false claims fraudulently snagged nearly $14,000 in taxpayer cash. Bennett has pleaded not guilty. Then there's Sharon Henderson, another Georgia state rep, who was indicted in December on similar charges. Federal authorities say Henderson certified that she was employed by a Georgia school district in 2020, but could not report to work because the school system was closed, a claim that the Justice Department says was used to qualify for pandemic unemployment assistance. She purportedly collected more than $17,000 as a result. The problem, however, according to court documents, is that the last time Henderson worked for that school system was in 2018, as a substitute teacher, two years before the pandemic ever began. And even then, she allegedly worked only five days during the entire year. She now stands accused of stealing government funds and making false statements, all as she was representing Georgia's 113th district. She too has pleaded not guilty. John Deneen, Sharon Henderson, unlike her colleague, has not resigned. Also, this is interesting, apparently she's married to a pastor, and once said she hoped to use her time in public office to spread the Christian message of love, which if convicted, she may have to do from behind bars. You know, Jason, I think this might be widespread, not just on the left, but also on the right. This is really probably pervasive. What are your thoughts? Well, my thoughts are anyone who made fraudulent statements to the US government in order to get COVID money should be prosecuted. I think this administration, clearly as we've seen in Minnesota, as we're seeing elsewhere, they're looking to root out the fraud and corruption and get to the bottom of who was taking taxpayer money under false pretenses. So if you've done that, right or left, you should be prosecuted and have a nice little jail cell with your name on it. Exactly, there should be a call right now, get your house in order, because you know what, after a certain point, you know what, if you're found guilty, you will actually receive full justice. Why? Because the American people deserve it. Thanks so much, Jason Matera.

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