Alleged Concealment of PPP Loans to Planned Parenthood

Senator Joni Ernst alleges the Paycheck Protection Program, which allowed self-certification, concealed $80 million in loans to Planned Parenthood and affiliates. In April 2020 the SBA, then under the Trump administration, approved the loans despite the organization employing more than 500 staff, exceeding the CARES Act small-business limit. Republican lawmakers objected, sent letters demanding repayment, and the SBA notified the affiliates of ineligibility in May 2020.

Daily Wire

• Apr 2020 – $80 M+ PPP disbursement to Planned Parenthood affiliates.

Daily Wire

• May 2020 – SBA letters declare ineligibility, request repayment.

Breitbart

• Apr 2021 – General Counsel Peggy Hamilton emails staff “Benghazi (PPP/PPH) Decisions,” directing eligibility review and White House notification.

Daily Wire

• May 2021 – Sen. Rand Paul questions Administrator Isabella Guzman about $17 M funded after ineligibility.

Daily Wire

• Jun 2021 – Guzman schedules Teams meeting titled “Benghazi (PPP/PPH) Decisions.”

Daily Wire

• Jul 2021 – Sen. Joni Ernst files DOJ request citing the email chain and possible 18 U.S.C. § 2071 violation.

Hot Air

The SBA has not commented publicly. In a DOJ letter, Ernst describes the conduct as a possible breach of the Federal Records Act, which imposes up to three years imprisonment for concealing federal records. She notes that roughly $90 million in loans and interest were forgiven and that $17 million was funded after the agency deemed Planned Parenthood ineligible. Senator Rand Paul accused the agency of “hiding this information from us” at the May 2021 hearing. Ernst says the code word “served no purpose other than to hide records from FOIA requests and congressional oversight” and calls for a criminal probe.

Breitbart

• “We now know that after the SBA Biden officials met, planned and strategized (over ‘Benghazi’), keeping the White House involved, approximately $90 million in Planned Parenthood SBA PPP loans and interest on the loans were forgiven by the Biden administration,” — Joni Ernst, Senator (R-IA)

Breitbart

• “It strains credulity to think SBA’s General Counsel Peggy Hamilton was doing anything other than hiding her Planned Parenthood records from Congressional and public scrutiny and oversight,” — Joni Ernst

Daily Wire

• “Can I schedule a meeting so we can decision Benghazi (Planned Parenthood)?” — Peggy Hamilton, SBA General Counsel

Daily Wire

• “You believe you are above the law … It looks like you are specifically hiding this information from us.” — Rand Paul, Senator (R-KY)

Daily Wire

• “Luke Rosiak, a fine reporter at the Daily Wire, has uncovered an explosive story about the Biden Administration's conspiracy to funnel $90 million in forgivable small business loans during the COVID pandemic.” — Luke Rosiak, Reporter (Daily Wire)

Hot Air

Ernst’s DOJ request is pending. A DOJ inquiry could examine alleged Federal Records Act violations. Congressional oversight may also revisit the SBA’s eligibility decisions and the coded communications.

Breitbart