this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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John Diehl admitted using federal pandemic loans for country club dues, cars and other personal expenses

A former Missouri state house speaker was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for misusing federal Covid-19 relief funds for his personal benefit, including the payments of his country club dues and three cars.

John Diehl, the former Republican house speaker, received about $380,000 in federal loans for his law firm between 2020 and 2022 through a program intended to help cover operating expenses for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

But Diehl admitted in a September plea agreement that he instead used the money for personal expenses such as country club dues, swimming pool maintenance, his home mortgage and vehicle payments for a Tesla, Audi and Jeep. Prosecutors said he used more than half the money to fund his law firm’s defined benefit plan, of which he was the only participant – and also paid off a civil settlement related to his time as state house speaker.

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[–] answersplease77@lemmy.world 1 points 57 minutes ago

Did he have to pay any restitution back? I would glady do 2 yrs jail for $380,000 . no lie my family is struggling

[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Republican

:whew:

Dems are not immune, but it is nice when it's not. heh.

[–] FauxPseudo@lemmy.world 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

But we already knew what the party affiliation was. Because that's how things work.

[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

It's largely Republicans, but absolutely not 100%, unfortunately.

[–] skwerlgyrl@piefed.social 10 points 23 hours ago

The only thing that surprises me is where he admitted any wrongdoing.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 8 points 23 hours ago

I wonder who he pissed off in order to actually have to face consequences as a Republican....

[–] Exeous@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

He pay money back? What happen? Item take back?

[–] Exeous@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

Yes - Diehl had asked the federal court to spare him from prison, noting that he had already paid back all the pandemic relief funds to the Small Business Administration (SBA)