A.G. Gancarski
Determining Rep. Corrine Brown‘s next move is a delightful game enjoyed by all Northeast Florida political junkies. Speculation swirling in Jacksonville City Hall on Tuesday was that Brown has been in Jacksonville this week, and that she was served a subpoena.
Spokesman David Simon said in an email on Tuesday that, “As far as I know, the Congresswoman is not in Jacksonville today. She should be on her way back to DC in fact, the House is in session today-Friday.”
With confusion about whether she was in Jacksonville, or why she might have been in Jacksonville, stories circulated about Brown being served a subpoena along with her meat and sides while dining with political associates at a local barbecue restaurant; specifically, a Bono’s on Norwood Avenue, a popular gathering place for politicians.
Being discussed: issues related to Florida Health Solutions PAC, Brown’s vehicle for a Medicaid Expansion referendum.
Brownworld was not talking, however, until Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Simon told Politico’s Matt Dixon that she had been served, and that the Brown office would release a more detailed statement later in the afternoon.
One detail to be addressed: the root cause for the subpoena.
Political veterans in Jacksonville have pointed to the Quick Picks process as a possible reason. Federal investigators have been asking questions for a number of years about the endorsement process. At least one person has gone on record as saying they are “pay to play.“
This story is developing, with other names linked to the story.
Meanwhile, Brown’s office issued a statement calling this a “tangential investigation”, saying that her district is “under attack through the redistricting process, and now it is under siege by other forces,” adding that “these unfounded and politically motivated actions” will not “distract” her from her work.
