ATLANTA — Governor Brian Kemp has suspended District 113 State Consultant Sharon Henderson from her seat within the state legislature.
Per an government order issued on Thursday night, Henderson is suspended from workplace instantly pending the ultimate disposition of her ongoing felony case or till her time period expires, whichever comes first.
Kemp issued the suspension following the appointment of a evaluate fee that examined the case. The fee consisted of Georgia Legal professional Basic Chris Carr (Republican), District 22 State Senator and Home Minority Chief Harold Jones II (Democrat) and District 47 State Consultant and Speaker Professional-Tempore of the Georgia Home of Representatives Jan Jones (Republican).
The suspension states that the evaluate fee has decided that Henderson’s pending prices do “adversely have an effect on the administration of duties.”
It isn’t clear if Kemp will appoint a short lived alternative.
The Covington Information has reached out to Henderson’s legal professional for remark.
Henderson was indicted in December on two counts of theft of presidency funds and 10 counts of constructing false statements. She pleaded not responsible and was launched on a $10,000 bond.
Federal prosecutors declare that Henderson, who’s in her third time period within the Home, collected $17,811 in false unemployment advantages through the COVID-19 pandemic. The present District 113 state consultant reportedly made claims that she was out of labor in its place trainer for Henry County Colleges as a result of pandemic.
However the U.S. Division of Justice says that Henderson had not labored for Henry County Colleges since 2018, regardless of her submitting certifications to obtain unemployment advantages and accepting mentioned advantages as not too long ago as 2021.
Two weeks after the indictment, Henderson spoke out publicly in regards to the prices for the primary time on her Fb web page through a fundraiser hyperlink titled “Justice For State Rep Sharon Henderson.” Within the fundraiser, Henderson maintained her innocence.
“I used to be extraordinarily confused and shocked once I was informed by FBI brokers that I used to be being arrested,” Henderson wrote. “All I might suppose was ‘what might I presumably have finished?’ I used to be baffled. I’ve by no means been accused of any unsuitable doing in my total life. I’ve by no means had any authorized points, by no means been accused of any crime, and I’ve by no means been arrested. I’m 67 years outdated. I’d by no means do that or do something unlawful!”
The case stays pending in federal court docket.
Henderson’s seat is up for reelection later this yr. Presently, it stays unclear if she’s going to search out a fourth time period underneath the Gold Dome. Forward of the suspension, Karla Daniels Hooper has declared her intent to run for the seat.
