U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said Beck used the stolen cash to pay personal credit card bills and taxes, as well as pump money into his 2018 campaign.

The evidence shows Beck lied to close friends he has known for 25 years and a family member to get them to create companies to send invoices to the Georgia Underwriters Association, Pak said. The invoices were often for work that wasn’t actually done, and Beck funneled the money back to himself, according to the indictment.

Because of the alleged lies and the fact that Beck could face 10 years in prison, Pak said Beck should put up cash for bond, rather than just promise to come back to court, as many indicted officials would be allowed to do.

“His word really doesn’t mean much,” the U.S. Attorney told the judge.

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Pak also said Beck should have nothing to do with the Georgia Underwriters Association. The association is a state-created marketplace that provides high-risk property insurance to Georgia homeowners having trouble getting coverage. The insurance commissioner has the power to appoint four members of its eight-member board and has a say in who runs for the other four seats.

Defense attorney William “Bill” Thomas told the judge Beck was willing to recuse himself from anything involving the association.

Pressure to go further and resign grew by the hour Wednesday.

Top Democrats, including the head of the state party and the minority leader in the state House, called for Beck to step aside. They were joined by at least two prominent Republicans.

Scott Johnson, who is running for state GOP chair, said he read the indictment and thinks Beck should resign. Buzz Brockway, a former GOP state legislator and candidate for secretary of state in last year’s election, said Beck should resign or at least step aside until the case is resolved.

Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said he was stunned at the “level of sophistication” of the alleged scheme, but he would not say whether he wanted Beck to resign. He said he wanted the governor to take the lead on the issue. Duncan was speaking on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Political Rewind” — a few hours before Kemp urged Beck to resign.

The governor’s letter is expected to lead to even more pressure on Beck as the state GOP heads to its convention Friday in Savannah.

If Beck resigns or is suspended by a governor-appointed panel, Kemp would appoint a successor. Beck could also recuse himself from all his duties in the job, where state records show he earns just over $120,000 a year. If that happens, the role would presumably be filled by deputy commissioner Drew Lane, a former prosecutor who recently served as the Georgia Underwriting Association’s chief counsel.

Beck’s attorney suggested the commissioner's deputy could handle any dealings with the Georgia Underwriting Association. The judge approved that, but no one mentioned that Lane also had history with the association.