Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersOctober 14, 2016

To many Puerto Ricans, Oscar López Rivera was a freedom fighter for independence who has spent the past 35 years as a political prisoner. Yet to stateside police, the U.S. Department of Justice, and federal courts he was a terrorist, a maker of bombs, and a leader of the FALN network that terrorized the United […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2016

Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, are staring down 24 counts for fraud and misrepresentation related to the One Door for Education charity. And now, they are staring down a status conference, slated for Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. at Jacksonville’s federal courthouse. Neither Brown nor Simmons have to attend. Counsel for the defendants and […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 12, 2016

At long last, a coherent defense strategy in the One Door for Education case — one that sees Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, as co-defendants — is taking shape. Brown and Simmons both — as has been amply documented — have had difficulties retaining counsel in their case, which involves 24 counts of allegations […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 7, 2016

There is a lot of uncertainty about the One Door for Education case, in which Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, are co-defendants. As of Wednesday afternoon, it is still uncertain whether or not Brown has a lawyer. That will be resolved, theoretically, by 3 p.m. And it is still uncertain when this case, which […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 7, 2016

The world of political influence is a small one, and a conflict in Congresswoman Corrine Brown‘s sphere was brought to light Wednesday in court. This particular conflict illustrated the intersection of Brown’s charitable and political endeavors, providing further evidence of the blurred lines between the two relative to the federal “One Door for Education” trial. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 29, 2016

The co-defendant of Corrine Brown in the One Door for Education case, her Chief of Staff Ronnie Simmons, may have to get a new lawyer after Thursday’s “conflict hearing” in his case. The hearing, slated for 1 p.m. in courtroom 5-D at the federal courthouse, addresses Simmons’ representation conflict. Simmons’ lawyer, Anthony Suarez, previously represented one of the prosecution’s witnesses. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2016

On Tuesday, Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff, Ronnie Simmons, had a status of counsel hearing regarding their One Door for Education case. One of the two has counsel. And the other failed to appear initially, causing confusion among court officers and the faithful press, though his new lawyer filed a notice of appearance after 4:00 on Tuesday. […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio always had an uphill battle to win Florida’s Republican Hispanic support away from Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential race, and now that Bush is gone there appears to be no automatic switch. Bush, who dropped out after a disappointing showing in South Carolina Saturday, had developed powerful loyalty among a […]

Darren Soto calls for release of Oscar López Rivera

Status conference set for Oct. 25 in Corrine Brown, Ronnie Simmons trial

Coherence emerges in Corrine Brown’s defense strategy?

Ronnie Simmons’ lawyer sees ‘some weak spots’ in One Door for Education prosecution

Corrine Brown COS disregards counsel conflict, retains Anthony Suarez

Thursday court date looms for Corrine Brown’s Chief of Staff

Corrine Brown chooses Alan Grayson’s divorce lawyer as her counsel

Marco Rubio not yet locking in Jeb Bush’s Florida Hispanic backers