Lawmaker accused of theft from charity announces resignation
In this Dec. 19, 2018 photo, Movita Johnson-Harrell, a supervisor for the Victim Witness Services unit, speaks with members of the media during a news conference in Philadelphia. Johnson-Harrell, a state House representative from Philadelphia, won a special election in March 2019 and is facing charges after prosecutors accused her of enriching herself by stealing money from a non-profit organization she founded to serve the mentally ill and poor who were fighting addiction. The charges were filed Wednesday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2018 file photo, Movita Johnson-Harrell, left, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, second left, take part in a vigil for gun violence victims in Philadelphia. Johnson-Harrell, a state House representative from Philadelphia, won a special election in March 2019 and is facing charges after prosecutors accused her of enriching herself by stealing money from a non-profit organization she founded to serve the mentally ill and poor who were fighting addiction. The charges were filed Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania lawmaker accused of bilking a charity she founded out of more than $500,000 announced Thursday she was resigning.
Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, D-Philadelphia, told House Speaker Mike Turzai in a letter that her resignation will take effect on Dec. 13, adding that she disputes many of the allegations against her.
She said she is resigning in part to focus on her criminal defense, adding that she takes responsibility for “some missteps” she made before she was elected.
“I am choosing to resign to protect my district, to allow for an orderly election for my successor and to focus on my defense to these allegations,” she wrote in the hand-delivered letter that was dated Wednesday.
Turzai, R-Allegheny, and Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, said they appreciated her resignation.
“We are deeply concerned anytime someone entrusted with positions of public leadership are accused of crimes that impugn the integrity of elected office,” the leaders wrote in a statement. “Any act of corruption by a member of our body damages the bond between the public and the Legislature for every member.”
Johnson-Harrell is alleged to have taken money from the charity, Motivations Education & Consultation Associates, diverting Medicaid and Social Security disability funds for her own use. The charity is designed to help people with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse problems and other challenges.
Prosecutors claim she spent the charity’s money on designer clothing, multiple fox coats, payments on a Porsche, tuition for a relative and travel to Mexico and Florida.
She is charged with theft, perjury, records tampering and other offenses. She was arraigned Wednesday and released on $50,000 unsecured bail, with a preliminary hearing set for Dec. 18.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said Wednesday Johnson-Harrell engaged in systematic corruption and lied for years to cover it up.
Comments
Hard to get one of those in Philadelphia.
This will be another costly special election. Did you know that this "First Woman Muslim" was elected through a special election in March of this year?
Just a little background on this story.
This seat of the 190th District, was vacated when state Rep. Vanessa Lowery-Brown (Democrat) resigned following her conviction on bribery and other charges — after two previous Democratic nominees announced but quickly withdrew when each of them faced questions over their residency in the district, doors flew open for Johnson-Harrell, who had run against Lowery-Brown in the 2016 primary, to enter.
1. Special elections cost money, and since this is a GA seat, we all help pay for it.
2. This woman lied about this, and was allowed to successfully cover it up to gain that seat.
3. The fake news, which thrives in Filthadelphia, allowed her to cover it up.
4. These power hungry Democrats who slither around in Filthy, make decisions at state level, which come against those of us in the suburbs (Realville).
I will say this, she represented Filthydelphia well.
At the end of the day, how did it work out?
Maybe you want to run for that seat.
I placed some facts of this case. Information Joe.
I would just like the voters to become educated on who it is they are voting for.
I'll just post two words Kitman Taqqiyah
It's about trust and verifying. It's about being on guard.
It's a history thing with me.
I would need to know where they stand on obeying Sharia, but remember Taqqiyah.
If I'm not 100% certain that any candidate will faithfully uphold and protect the U.S. Constitution, then I will have to vote against them. Their worldview counts a lot in my decision.
It is not just by planes, bullets and bombs that jihadists plan to destroy the free western world. It is also by using our own system of laws to sue and shut down all who would dare say a word against their prophet. People like you play right into their hands.
Look at the UK, France, or Germany. How's that working out? Heck, look at the 190th District!
Can they be trusted? Kitman...
I was a Ben Carson supporter, I'm a TEA Party conservative (politics), and I serve the messiah Jesus Christ.
The topic here is the empty seat left open by yet another corrupt State Democrat.
I see Trump lives in your head too. You need to get together with that "Joe" person and try and kick the Trumpster out if he ain't paying rent.
You could get a spot on SNL Joe.
Name calling is all you can come up with?
You may have misunderstood something you heard about him, I don't know?
Mike, maybe you and the REAL Trump Derangement Syndrome
people should read the book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" written by (updated) 37 Psychiatrists. EDIT ADD ON: JUST GOOGLE BOOK TITLE. SCROLL DOWN TO FREE PDF VERSION.
(UNDER....DANGEROUSCASE.ORG)
Wow, you must have been in the university a long time.
37 psychiatrists... wow. Doctors?
Being educated, you don’t know basic facts about the Holocaust.
Being an elite snob, who denies the Holocaust. What you're saying is, there were no gas chambers, there was no Auschwitz, there was no plan to kill six million Jews. Why? Because you minimize it.
Shame on you! You sicken me.
Trump said a lot of things. A lot of B.S. Words. And crazy behavior.
His actions, (behavior) says it all. Remember folks when it comes to people spewing words in your own life, remember their behavior speaks the real truth.
I think you might be his son. :)
These Muslims lie, as it's permitted by their religion. Kitman or Taqqiyah