A Georgia state lawmaker pled guilty in court on Thursday to making false statements in order to illegally collect nearly $18,000 in COVID-19 pandemic unemployment benefits while she was serving as an elected official. Democratic Rep. Sharon Henderson, who represents Georgia’s District 113, is the third member of the state House to plead guilty in connection with benefit fraud during the pandemic. According to prosecutors, Henderson began applying for the benefits in June 2020, when she was still a candidate for the Georgia House. She was elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022 and 2024 to represent western Newton County and part of Covington. In court, the 67-year-old lawmaker pled guilty to making false statement to obtain funds administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.