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.”
Cornell rape allegations prompt NY Attorney General Letitia James to open ‘active criminal investigation’
Co-pilot stabbed during Flydubai flight describes lifesaving moment he opened cockpit door
California mayor accused of drunken behavior, racial slur, harassment in chief of staff’s claim
Rain or Shine: Trump Rushes to Oklahoma Rally by Highway After Severe Weather Grounds Him
Ms Rachel pours cash into progressive campaigns and more top headlines
‘DSA jihadi’: LA mayoral candidate torched after defending ‘genocide’ comment during Jewish forum
How Kansas became collateral damage in Trump’s Canadian trade war — and threw the local GOP for a loop
Inside the House GOP’s 4-week battle plan to save its majority
Seattle Announces New Minimum Wage, Blasts Through $22 Threshold for First Time in U.S. History
Vance embodies Nixon’s populist, outsider qualities
Trump’s first-year government overhaul delivers change Washington hasn’t seen since the 1960s
Trump admin wants to require tax filers to disclose citizenship status to IRS
Lawyers, experts urge Tennessee governor to commute Christa Pike’s sentence after botched execution
AOC’s dramatic retelling of Cornell rape allegations collides with complaint details
Trans NYT Executive Faced Child Cruelty Charges Before Shooting Death – Police Say In-Laws Opened Fire
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.
