A Muslim Pennsylvania state lawmaker has been charged for allegedly stealing half a million dollars from a charity she founded.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement Thursday that Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell (D) had been charged with numerous charges of theft, perjury, and tampering.
Johnson-Harrell had previously made headlines for being offended by a Christian prayer offered before a session of the Pennsylvania Legislature in March.
Shapiro said that she had stolen money from Motivations Education & Consultation Associates, or MECA, a charity meant to collect donations to help the homeless, seniors and children.
He alleged that she spent the money on “vacations, designer clothing, luxury car payments, real estate purchases, past-due mortgage payments, and other personal expenses.”
Mega-mansion built on Manson murder site now a luxury rental after years of failing to find buyer
Trump Scorches 2 SCOTUS Justices by Name: ‘Democrats don’t really need to “PACK THE COURT”‘
More than 25 charged in nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown involving guns, drugs and cash
Watch: Trump Blasts NFL Over Possible Amazon, Netflix Deal – Says Many Fans ‘Don’t Make Enough Money to Pay’
ActBlue scrutiny fuels new GOP bills to tighten election donation rules
Alabama AG makes Supreme Court play that could deal decisive blow in redistricting war
GOP lawmaker unveils historic move to ‘expunge’ both ‘maliciously false’ impeachments against Trump
Trump says Iran’s latest proposal reneges on giving up enriched material: ‘Are they stupid people?’
Developing: Virginia Dems Plotting Overthrow of Entire State Supreme Court to Save Redistricting Scheme
Two Israeli Soldiers Sentenced to Prison for Desecration of Mary Statue
WHCA dinner gunman pleads not guilty to attempted Trump assassination charges
WHCA Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen pleads not guilty, judge scoffs at defense’s power play
Footage shows moments before Frontier Airlines jet struck person on Denver airport runway
Democrats consider plan to wipe conservatives off Virginia Supreme Court: Report
Jeff Landry dismisses concerns about 45,000 discarded ballots after suspended primaries: ‘It’s not my fault’
Shapiro said in the statement that she had turned herself in, had confessed to the crimes, and had agreed to leave the Pennsylvania Legislature.
“Her theft knew no bounds,” he said.
Later, in a statement released through her lawyers to the Associated Press, she said she disputed some the charges.
“I am saddened and dismayed by the nature of the allegations brought against me today,” Johnson-Harrell said.
“I vigorously dispute many of these allegations, which generally pertain to before I took office and I intend to accept responsibility for any actions that were inappropriate,” she added.
Johnson-Harrell had founded MECA in 2006.
She had been the first Muslim representative elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature.
