A metro Atlanta lawmaker accused of theft of government funds in connection with COVID-19 relief pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday.
Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington, walked into the courtroom in downtown Atlanta wearing ankle cuffs, after she was arrested at her home in the morning.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand made her surrender her passport but allowed her to go free on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
Henderson, who represents an area around Covington in southeast metro Atlanta, faces a dozen criminal counts.
Anand said Henderson was accused of two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements.
The Department of Justice said Henderson had sought federal pandemic unemployment benefits, filing eight weekly certifications that she was an employee of Henry County Schools even though she had not worked there since 2018, when she served briefly as a substitute teacher.