A.G. Gancarski
Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, face 24 counts between them in a federal court trial next April.
The criminal counts related to an allegedly fraudulent charity, which solicited and collected $800,000 over a period of years, but distributed less than $2,000 under its charitable auspices.
One might think she would keep a low profile politically.
One would be wrong, as Brown continues to endorse candidates and, weeks after her loss, spent over $10,000 on lodging.
Despite her federal charges and despite the fact that she is not running for office at this point, having lost to Al Lawson in the primary, Brown opted to issue one final iteration of her Quick Picks, which was distributed at a candidate forum Thursday night to the chagrin of the hosts.
There were a few surprises.
Brown opted not to endorse in the race between Lawson and Republican Glo Smith for her seat in Florida’s 5th Congressional District. And, rather than endorse a Democrat in the clerk of courts race, Brown endorsed incumbent Republican Ronnie Fussell.
Meanwhile, Brown’s political committee — “Friends of Corrine Brown” —issued its October quarterly finance report, and there were some surprises there also.
Brown put in $50,000 of her own money after Aug. 19, including $15,000 after the Aug. 30 primary was over.
The last money transfer, of $10,000, was made Sept. 13.
From Aug. 11 onward, Brown spent $92,761. Much of that money went to old allies in familiar ways, such as thousands of dollars in catering from Jerome Brown Barbeque and the Honey Dripper House.
And, interestingly enough, there was some spending after the primary itself, including gasoline purchases in the days after the primary and $11,278 for lodging at Marriott invoiced on Sept. 25 and 26.
Brown, facing corruption charges, likely will face fresh scrutiny over her latest campaign finance report, which shows spending long after the race was run.
Will Brown’s decision to dump $50,000 of unaccountable money into her campaign factor into the upcoming trial? Will the $11,278 spent with Marriott in late September raise questions for federal prosecutors?
