New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz, B.E.S.T. Executive Director Laura Zorc, and Heroes of Liberty Editor Bethany Mandel recently discussed the nationwide fallout over Disney’s opposition to legislation. Amidst this controversy, former Florida Republican state representative Joe Harding, who gained national recognition for sponsoring a parental rights bill, spoke exclusively to Digital in his first major interview since being sentenced to prison for wire fraud.
Harding, who served as a Florida state representative until December of last year, was sentenced to four months in prison earlier this year for fraudulently obtaining COVID relief funds through a business loan. He takes full responsibility for his actions and acknowledges that the media has misrepresented the situation, making it even more challenging for him. Despite facing criticism and political arrows, Harding accepts that he made mistakes that led to his current predicament.
According to Harding, his legal problems arose when his brother-in-law, Patrick Parker Walsh, approached him during a vulnerable time in his life in 2020. Walsh, who was involved in massive fraud amounting to over $8 million, misled Harding into participating in a scheme where false information was included on a COVID loan application. Although Harding gave permission for the loan to be applied for, he claims he was unaware of the fraudulent activities. Walsh, who was sentenced to five years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering, manipulated and conned Harding, leading him into this issue.
Harding emphasizes that he did not personally benefit financially from the $150,000 loan, and it was fully repaid more than two years before he faced prosecution. Prior to his legal troubles, Harding gained national attention for sponsoring a parental rights bill in Florida. The bill aimed to give parents more influence over what their young children are taught about sexuality in schools. However, Democrats and media outlets controversially dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, despite the absence of the word “gay” in the bill’s text.
While Harding takes responsibility for his actions, he acknowledges that the media had a desire to criticize him for his legal issues. He expresses frustration with inaccurate reporting on the severity of his problems, such as exaggerations of charges and amounts. Harding hopes that his situation will serve as a warning to others in elected office about the importance of taking responsibility and being cautious about who they associate with.
Despite his current circumstances, Harding remains proud of the work he accomplished during his time in office. He never anticipated that he would sponsor a bill that would garner national attention and elicit responses from the president’s press secretary and the White House’s Twitter account. Looking ahead, Harding doesn’t rule out a future role as a public servant and intends to use his experience as a learning opportunity to help others.
In conclusion, former Florida Republican state representative Joe Harding opens up about his wire fraud conviction in an exclusive interview. Harding takes responsibility for his actions, but emphasizes that he was misled and manipulated by his brother-in-law. He hopes that his situation will serve as a cautionary tale for others in elected office and plans to use his experience to assist those facing similar circumstances.
