Florida lawmaker indicted, accused of fraud on virus loan

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida state Rep. Joe Harding has been indicted on charges defrauding a loan program offered by the federal government to help small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. Federal prosecutors on Wednesday said Harding illegally obtained or tried to obtain more than $150,000 from the Small Business Administration in pandemic aid loans.  Harding is a Republican who became nationally know this year over his sponsorship of a Florida law that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade — as well as material that is not deemed age-appropriate. Critics call it the “Don’t Say Gay” law.