Former Missouri House Speaker John J. Diehl Jr. has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after admitting to fraud related to pandemic relief funds, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Diehl, who once served as the top Republican in the Missouri House of Representatives, resigned from his leadership position in 2015 after revelations that he had sent sexually explicit emails to a legislative intern.

Federal authorities said Diehl later became involved in misconduct tied to financial relief programs created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A former Missouri 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. https://t.co/7TmIbcjyb1

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 10, 2026

According to reports cited by First Alert, Diehl admitted that on March 30, 2020, he submitted an application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan on behalf of his law firm, the Diehl Law Group.

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The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program was established to assist small businesses that were experiencing financial hardship during the pandemic.

Less than one month after submitting the application, the Diehl Law Group received an advance payment of $1,000 from the program.

Prosecutors said that shortly after the advance was deposited into the firm’s bank account, Diehl used the funds for personal expenses.

Records cited in the case show that he later made a $1,320.15 payment to a country club to cover personal dues and other charges.

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Federal officials said additional loan funds arrived in the firm’s bank account several months later.

On June 9, 2020, the remaining $93,900 from the loan was deposited into the Diehl Law Group account.

Authorities said Diehl then transferred portions of the loan proceeds into his personal bank accounts.

According to court records, another transfer occurred later in the year. On Sept. 16, 2020, Diehl moved $50,039.55 from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds into the retirement plan associated with the Diehl Law Group.

Court documents indicated that Diehl was the only participant in that retirement plan.

Prosecutors said the transactions violated the terms of the federal loan program, which was designed to provide financial support for legitimate business expenses tied to pandemic disruptions.

In addition to the prison sentence, Diehl admitted to taking a total of $370,000 in loans from the Small Business Administration during the pandemic period.

As part of his sentence, Diehl was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.

The case marks another chapter in the former lawmaker’s political and legal history.

Diehl served in the Missouri House of Representatives and rose to the position of speaker in 2015. His tenure ended later that year when he resigned following the disclosure of sexually explicit emails he had sent to a legislative intern.

After leaving public office, Diehl returned to private legal practice through the Diehl Law Group.

Federal authorities said the charges related specifically to the misuse of funds connected to pandemic relief programs that were intended to support businesses struggling during the COVID-19 crisis.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans were part of the broader set of emergency financial assistance measures made available to businesses across the United States in 2020.

The sentencing concludes the federal criminal case tied to Diehl’s use of those funds.

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