Federal prosecutors charged former Democratic state Rep. Karen Bennett on Monday with fraudulently obtaining pandemic-era unemployment benefits, making her the second Georgia legislator to be charged with fraud tied to the COVID-19 relief programs.
Prosecutors say the Stone Mountain Democrat improperly collected $13,940 in federal unemployment benefits and supplements in 2020 after falsely stating that the pandemic prevented her from working. Court filings indicate she pleaded not guilty. She and her attorney didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.
State Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Democrat from Newton County, was charged in December with fraud related to government assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Henderson has pleaded not guilty.
During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, the federal government extended unemployment benefits to people who were unable to work. Bennett applied for and received the payments, but prosecutors say she was never prevented from doing her job at a physical therapy business, saying her role with the company was administrative and that she worked from a home office both before and during the pandemic.
At the same time, prosecutors say, Bennett disclosed receiving $300 weekly from the Georgia General Assembly — but failed to report additional wages from her business and a church job that paid $905 per week. She also stated she was actively searching for work even though she wasn’t, according to the charges.
Bennett resigned Jan. 1 after 13 years in the Georgia Legislature, according to a letter obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“I am proud of the work accomplished by the Georgia General Assembly when we came together to advance policies that strengthened our state and improved the lives of all Georgians,” she wrote. “Serving in this capacity has truly been a labor of love, and one I will deeply miss.”
Bennett was first elected in 2012 to represent portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. She once chaired the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.
During her time in public service, Bennett co-sponsored the state’s 2020 hate crime law. Before the passage of House Bill 426, Georgia was one of five states without a hate crimes law.
Bennett is one of two state House resignations to occur just ahead of the start of the state legislative session Jan. 12.
State Rep. Lynn Heffner, D-Augusta, submitted her resignation Monday. She said her home sustained damage during Hurricane Helene in September 2024, and she could no longer meet the constitutional requirement to live in her district.
Heffner was elected to the state House in 2022. She also is the director of Motor Vehicle Registration in Richmond County.
After several special elections in the Georgia General Assembly this fall and winter, Democrats picked up one seat in the state House. With Bennett and Heffner’s departures, Democrats drop to a 79-seat minority bloc.
A spokesperson with Kemp’s office said the governor will call a special election to replace Bennett and Heffner but did not specify a time.
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