A.G. Gancarski
Rep. Corrine Brown has a message for her supporters: send money now!
To that end, a new website reflects the new operational reality for the 23-year congresswoman, whose last election likely was the Aug. 30 primary she lost to Al Lawson in Florida’s 5th Congressional District.
The Corrine Brown Legal Defense Trust is “under construction,” a cyberspace synecdoche for her defense efforts themselves, which have exhausted the efforts of three sets of lawyers, and now are being handled by Orlando barrister James Smith, who is adamant the case will not be plea bargained, but instead will go to trial.
“They redrew my district in order to make it harder for me to be re-elected. Then sadly, on July 8, 2016, I was falsely accused by the federal government. It is not a coincidence that these charges were filed immediately prior to my Aug. 30 Primary Election, which I ultimately lost. I am a woman of integrity and I categorically deny the charges,” Brown writes.
“I am fighting the Department of Justice, which has unlimited resources. They have smeared my good name. They are trying to take my freedom. I am asking for your help to fight these false charges. On this website, you can make a donation to my legal defense fund. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated,” Brown added.
Unlike with campaigns, there is no cap on “legal defense” contributions.
Offered on the page: a testimonial to Brown’s help sending 22 children to China in 2015. It’s notable that the trip doesn’t seem to have had anything to do with One Door for Education, the charity that prosecutors say was a slush fund for Rep. Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons.
In 2015, the last year for which financial disclosure data has been filed for Brown, she took in $65,500 for her legal defense fund.
The next court date for Brown and Simmons’ defense lawyers is Oct. 25, although neither defendant is required to be present.
