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.”
Kamala Harris says Biden made ‘big mistake’ by not inviting Musk to EV event in 2021
Illinois State University teacher’s assistant flips Turning Point USA table, tears down flyers: ‘Jesus did it’
Protesters nationwide hold ‘No Kings’ rallies amid government shutdown
‘First to fight’: Marine VP JD Vance marks Corps’ 250th as Hegseth says unity, not ‘diversity,’ is strength
George Santos expresses gratitude to Trump following commutation of his 7-year prison sentence
Thousands of New Yorkers flock to Times Square for ‘No Kings’ protest against Trump
Newsom clashes with White House over Marine Corps anniversary celebration highway closure
NYC voters at ‘No Kings’ rally say Zohran Mamdani ‘represents everything’ Trump is not
McDonald’s worker shoots customer in neck during ‘McMess’ altercation, Florida sheriff says
Trump administration freezes $11 billion in blue-state infrastructure projects, blames Democrats for shutdown
WATCH: ‘No Kings’ protesters at massive NYC rally reveal motivation for taking to the streets: ‘Disgusting’
40 Days for Life sees spike in volunteers after Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Vance Leads Newsom in Head-To-Head 2028 Matchup: Respected Pollster
New Jersey Democratic governor hopeful attends ‘No Kings’ protest, vows to fight Trump ‘tooth and nail’
Alex Murdaugh’s double life: How greed and corruption brought down Lowcountry legal empire
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.
