Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 3, 2016

On Tuesday, Federal Judge James Klindt imposed a protective order on evidence in the “One Door for Education” case involving Rep. Corrine Brown and her chief of staff. The two face 24 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 […]

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

The big reveal from Wednesday’s hearing for Corrine Brown included a new defense lawyer, and likely a new trial date. Despite the fact that Congresswoman Brown’s political career appears to be over, she and key exponents of her political machine still have a show to put on in federal court. To get there, however, hurdles have to be […]

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. GancarskiSeptember 6, 2016

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and Ronnie Simmons, her chief of staff, will be at the federal courthouse in Jacksonville Wednesday for separate hearings regarding their counsel — or lack thereof — in the blockbuster One Door for Education case. Simmons’ lawyer, Anthony Suarez, may have a conflict that precludes him from representing Simmons. In a different matter, Suarez represented a prosecution […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2016

Whether it’s the tropical weather or the fact that his boss and co-defendant is slated to have a hearing on her own situation with counsel, the hearing scheduled for Elias “Ronnie” Simmons (chief of staff for Rep. Corrine Brown) has been pushed back from Thursday to Sept. 7. Brown’s hearing, regarding her own lack of counsel and […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 31, 2016

As Rep. Corrine Brown prepares for her life after elected office, a role she’s been in since 1982, she offered meditations in a blog post Wednesday. Brown, who lost her primary in the reconfigured 5th Congressional District by nine points, framed the electoral loss not as a “defeat,” but a “setback.” Brown was not able to completely […]

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. […]

Tag: Ronnie Simmons

Protective Order imposed in Corrine Brown ‘One Door for Education’ case

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

Coherence emerges in Corrine Brown’s defense strategy?

James Smith is latest Corrine Brown lawyer; trial likely delayed until 2017

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

Corrine Brown COS disregards counsel conflict, retains Anthony Suarez

Two counsel hearings loom Wednesday in Corrine Brown One Door for Education case

Corrine Brown chief of staff’s hearing on his legal counsel pushed back to Sept. 7

Corrine Brown after loss: ‘You know they’ve been after me for years’

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