(http://i.imgur.com/H7r7MlD.png)
BREAKING: House of Representatives establishes committee to investigate Florida Rep. Corrine Brown for possible ethics violations, including that she improperly solicited charitable donations and used campaign funds for personal purposes.
https://www.facebook.com/ActionNewsJacksonville/photos/a.137516932987468.29549.115853591820469/1084633071609178/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/WJXT4TheLocalStation/
Look for an announcement of a parade of people moving ( or buying a condo, just in case) to her reformed district with the intent to run for her slot if she is found guilty.
The best thing people could do in her district is reelect her. She hasn't done anything good for anyone, including minorities.
I think we're finally rid of her. Unfortunately, she'll still be living on our taxes until she dies thanks to her pension, but maybe some progress will be made when she's out.
She will be found guilty, mark my words. However I see that the investigation will take place under the umbrella of National ethics laws. That translates to no time in jail but fines. If she is found guilty of the ethical violations however, she could face some more serious charges. She will likely see charges filed with the Justice Department and that can well mean jail time.
There are other issues that are know to investigators that have not been reported on which would open her up to Rico law. Her politician days may well be over between this and the district changes which she is also fighting but is now begging the public to donate to her to fight the changes.
This investigation and pending investigation with the Justice Department will make it difficult if not impossible to run for office again regardless of district changes. The time has come.
Corruption is Jacksonville's Brand!
Stay Positive.
Corruption is a government brand. Think we're bad? Try Detroit, Birmingham, Memphis, and so many more.
Quote from: coredumped on March 23, 2016, 11:06:05 PM
Corruption is a government brand. Think we're bad? Try Detroit, Birmingham, Memphis, and so many more.
YES!
Visit Jacksonville!
The charges against Corrine Brown are now going to be handled directly by the Department of Justice. Ethics investigation could follow or ethics could take action based upon what the DOJ finds. Corrine is feverishly trying to save herself and her hefty pension which could be lost if she is adjudicated guilty of fraud charges. Expect an announcement from her as early as tomorrow stating that she will not pursue the case to fight district changes and she will also not be running for re-election. Timing is everything here. Corrine will have to give the DOJ something very worthwhile in order for them to hold charges to protect her pension. Stay tuned.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on March 24, 2016, 11:54:49 AM
The charges against Corrine Brown are now going to be handled directly by the Department of Justice. Ethics investigation could follow or ethics could take action based upon what the DOJ finds. Corrine is feverishly trying to save herself and her hefty pension which could be lost if she is adjudicated guilty of fraud charges. Expect an announcement from her as early as tomorrow stating that she will not pursue the case to fight district changes and she will also not be running for re-election. Timing is everything here. Corrine will have to give the DOJ something very worthwhile in order for them to hold charges to protect her pension. Stay tuned.
Wow.
Diane, do you think this fraud that is seen in the transportation sector is also going on in housing and community development with Federal Entitlement Funds (CDBG, NSP, and etc.?)
Alright! This is awesome news; gives me a reason to celebrate! I'm buying a nice big steak and a case of beer!
However, I'm sure my celebration will be short lived. Who will replace her?
Gloria, this is a multi-layered investigation that has grown tentacles. While current charges are being investigated there are several more coming down the pike. The investigations are still underway and much of what you mentioned is being looked at. :)
urbanknight. You can be sure some players will be vying for her job. Many of the same old names. People will be jockeying homes and homestead exemptions to be allowed into this race. When the time come, I will let everyone know who is who to the best of my ability.
It appears at this posting that next Monday 3/28/2016 Congresswoman Corrine Brown will be announcing her retirement from politics. This likely a result of pending charges against her and an attempt to preserve her generous government pension and benefits. Of course it remains to be seen if she will follow trough on the press conference.
The players in this investigation are also connected to JTA. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-03-19/story/staffer-us-rep-corrine-brown-also-works-jta-raising-conflict-interest
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,26452.0.html (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,26452.0.html)
And in the wink of an eye, Corrine Brown now claims she will not retire and will seek re-election. This is likely because she has about 150 people she wants to bus to Tallahassee to fight the district changes a case she has already lost previously. I guess she can't beg the folks for money via television and print news reports, to fight the district change (which is her claim when she asks for the funds) if she also says she will retire. Looks like that finally occurred to her and she now says she intends to run. I suppose when you have gotten away with fraud for decades there is a certain sense of invulnerability felt. A wake up call is on its way.
Corriine was very secure in her position. Two years ago she didn't even bother to run a campaign against her (black) republican opponent and still beat him with nearly 80% of the vote. Corrupt? Without a doupt, but she has been this way for as long as I can remember. Her constituents know she's corrupt but they don't care because she tells them that she will bring them free money and more but the only one getting rich is her. Corrine doesn't what he district changed, if the people in the new parts care less about freebies than earnng their own way even if they district is 100% democratic she might lose.
As much as I dislike Congress Woman Brown, she does have a point about her new district. Counting thousands of prisoners, who can't vote, as part of the minority population in the district is wrong.
This, of course, is a bigger problem, populations who are prohibited from voting should not count when setting up districts, at any level.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on March 26, 2016, 10:16:02 AM
As much as I dislike Congress Woman Brown, she does have a point about her new district. Counting thousands of prisoners, who can't vote, as part of the minority population in the district is wrong.
This, of course, is a bigger problem, populations who are prohibited from voting should not count when setting up districts, at any level.
According to this article the prisoner population isn't as large as the Congresswoman would have you believe.
The article is primarily about Jefferson County, but it does briefly speak about the Congressional district.
http://news.wfsu.org/post/inmate-populations-cast-doubt-state-local-district-lines
Quote
Isbell is a left-leaning mapping contractor. According to the Prison Policy Initiative—an organization that tracks prison gerrymandering throughout the country—there are nine additional counties adding inmates to their municipal districts.
But Isbell isn't buying Brown's claims. He says historical data shows a district with strong African American participation, and he says the prison population just isn't that big.
"Total prison population of this newly proposed congressional district five is somewhere between one and two percent of the total population of the district," Isbell says.
Since the linked article doesn't have numbers for CD5, I will have to do some research later.
You don't think Corrine would exagerate, do you?
I just love how she says her black constituents won't be represented any more. Wrong--they can vote, and be represented, just like everybody else in the state of Florida.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on March 27, 2016, 07:50:51 AM
Since the linked article doesn't have numbers for CD5, I will have to do some research later.
You don't think Corrine would exagerate, do you?
Yeah, the article isn't very strong on CD5 numbers but that district really wasn't what the article was covering. I suspect that due to the type of business that the company mentioned is in, they have looked at her district and the percentages they are giving are pretty close to accurate. I wouldn't put it past the Congresswoman to exaggerate, lie, cheat, or steal to get her vway.
The politics of prisons is a whole subject all by itself unfortunately.
They do get counted in the census, which means they add to the public rolls of the town they reside. Its true that they cant vote while incarcerated, however, they do get representation by proxy based on the community it functions in.
So by being incarcerated means they still count as citizens but have lost some their privileges, such as voting, freedom of movement, etc.
They should just allow prisoners to vote, thereby being more democratic and solving the problem.
Quote from: Adam White on March 28, 2016, 12:21:52 PM
They should just allow prisoners to vote, thereby being more democratic and solving the problem.
Prison by design is a revocation of the rights of said citizen for crimes against the state. Once time is served, or they recieve a parole, or get an early release, their voting abilities are restored.
Quote from: spuwho on March 28, 2016, 01:14:08 PM
Quote from: Adam White on March 28, 2016, 12:21:52 PM
They should just allow prisoners to vote, thereby being more democratic and solving the problem.
Prison by design is a revocation of the rights of said citizen for crimes against the state. Once time is served, or they recieve a parole, or get an early release, their voting abilities are restored.
Yes, that's one very specific way to look at it. And not all people see it that way. I wouldn't expect you to feel any different, though.
Brown Indicted per Politico/First Coast News
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/corrine-brown-to-face-federal-charges/83567085
QuoteJACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Fifth District Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) has been indicted on charges likely related to her involvement with an unregistered charity in Virginia and appear in Jacksonville Federal Court Friday, multiple sources have confirmed to First Coast News.
First Coast News has learned Brown will appear before a federal magistrate judge Friday afternoon. As of 1 p.m., Brown is in Washington D.C. as the House is still in session.
For those who thought I was unjustly picking on Corrine Brown "I told you so" and there is more beyond this that will likely never see the light off day.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 07, 2016, 06:28:51 PM
For those who thought I was unjustly picking on Corrine Brown "I told you so" and there is more beyond this that will likely never see the light off day.
I was sure she was going to find a way to get out of this one like she has so many other things.
Not this time Carpenter. I have personally spent over 12 years investigating her and her actions and know what she is facing. Corrine Brown herself is scared to death because her attorneys have already told her she is in a very, very difficult situation. The woman who worked with her has packed up and left town. She you may remember was also subpoenaed and has been given immunity to testify. She will be most interested in protecting herself. By they way, Reginald Gaffney is also going to be facing some serious charges very soon as well.
Also note the political will to save Corrine Brown is not there. She is supposed to be in Federal Court tomorrow morning. She has rounded up a small group of protesters to support her outside. She has become a political liability and she will not be protected by those higher up.
it's about time!
Quote from: Murder_me_Rachel on July 08, 2016, 08:44:45 AM
(http://i.imgur.com/PzrDZs2.gif)
She's the real life Clay Davis
greatest show ever
WOW the sharks are ripping at Corrine Brown's as if she has already been proven Guilty. If these charges and a juror prove she is guilty then she will do time. But lets wait till we hear from the Feds. ::)
While the Corrine Brown era Black politicians may have started out with good intentions, if anyone thinks their intentions today have anything to do with helping out their constituents, you have not been paying attention in any way at all.
We know she is guilty. She knows she is guilty. The Feds know it as well. The question becomes, can it be proven in a court of law this time? We can only hope.
Quote from: strider on July 08, 2016, 09:45:28 AM
While the Corrine Brown era Black politicians may have started out with good intentions, if anyone thinks their intentions today have anything to do with helping out their constituents, you have not been paying attention in any way at all.
We know she is guilty. She knows she is guilty. The Feds know it as well. The question becomes, can it be proven in a court of law this time? We can only hope.
This
The CBC is made up almost exclusive of crooks that abuse their constituents.
Corrine Brown and her chief of staff, indicted on 24 federal counts.
(http://i.imgur.com/G3qa7bo.jpg)
http://www.news4jax.com/news/investigations/congresswoman-corrine-brown-in-federal-court
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 09:21:05 AM
WOW the sharks are ripping at Corrine Brown's as if she has already been proven Guilty. If these charges and a juror prove she is guilty then she will do time. But lets wait till we hear from the Feds. ::)
That's because she is. The feds are the reason she was indicted. Now she can make her case at court. She will be found guilty. That's not ripping up Corrine Brown, its stating a fact. The documentation and testimony against here is overwhelming.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 02:06:19 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 09:21:05 AM
WOW the sharks are ripping at Corrine Brown's as if she has already been proven Guilty. If these charges and a juror prove she is guilty then she will do time. But lets wait till we hear from the Feds. ::)
That's because she is. The feds are the reason she was indicted. Now she can make her case at court. She will be found guilty. That's not ripping up Corrine Brown, its stating a fact. The documentation and testimony against here is overwhelming.
We will see. I didn't vote for her because I have lived in Ortega for the last 37 years. So was the testimony for Hillary Clinton but she was never charged. The Republicans have been going after Brown since she first won. And they lost with each candidate that went up against her. So with her new troubles she may lose this time. But lets not forget your Innocent until proven Guilty in a court of law.
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 05:17:42 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 02:06:19 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 09:21:05 AM
WOW the sharks are ripping at Corrine Brown's as if she has already been proven Guilty. If these charges and a juror prove she is guilty then she will do time. But lets wait till we hear from the Feds. ::)
That's because she is. The feds are the reason she was indicted. Now she can make her case at court. She will be found guilty. That's not ripping up Corrine Brown, its stating a fact. The documentation and testimony against here is overwhelming.
We will see. I didn't vote for her because I have lived in Ortega for the last 37 years. So was the testimony for Hillary Clinton but she was never charged. The Republicans have been going after Brown since she first won. And they lost with each candidate that went up against her. So with her new troubles she may lose this time. But lets not forget your Innocent until proven Guilty in a court of law.
Not actually. Republicans have not been going after Brown since she won and in fact her former gerrymandered district speaks to off the record agreements that put her exactly where Republicans wanted her to be. :)
From the Times Union moments ago:
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a towering and polarizing figure in Jacksonville politics and government, pleaded not guilty Friday to 24 federal charges that she helped raise about $800,000 for a bogus scholarship fund that turned out to be little more than a personal slush fund for expenses like car repairs, airplane tickets and luxury box seats to a Beyonce concert.
In their 53-page indictment, prosecutors allege Brown and a small group of her longtime confidants funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations through outside organizations or bank accounts to obscure the fact that virtually none of the money went toward charitable causes. Instead, the money was later deposited in Brown's account or withdrawn as cash, paying for vacations in the Bahamas, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
Prosecutors say they were only able to find two scholarships awarded by the group, One Door for Education, totaling $1,200. Brown's close relationship to One Door — and the difficulty tracking charitable work the group had claimed — was the subject of a January Times-Union report and a series of stories since.
The government also accuses Brown of fabricating charitable donations on her federal tax returns from 2008-2014, and in several cases obtaining letters verifying those bogus contributions from an unnamed nonprofit that resembles one run by another close confidant, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Gaffney.
For full story click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-08/story/brown-indictment-alleges-charity-was-slush-fund-trips-luxury-seats-events-car?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 07:33:07 PM
From the Times Union moments ago:
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a towering and polarizing figure in Jacksonville politics and government, pleaded not guilty Friday to 24 federal charges that she helped raise about $800,000 for a bogus scholarship fund that turned out to be little more than a personal slush fund for expenses like car repairs, airplane tickets and luxury box seats to a Beyonce concert.
In their 53-page indictment, prosecutors allege Brown and a small group of her longtime confidants funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations through outside organizations or bank accounts to obscure the fact that virtually none of the money went toward charitable causes. Instead, the money was later deposited in Brown's account or withdrawn as cash, paying for vacations in the Bahamas, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
Prosecutors say they were only able to find two scholarships awarded by the group, One Door for Education, totaling $1,200. Brown's close relationship to One Door — and the difficulty tracking charitable work the group had claimed — was the subject of a January Times-Union report and a series of stories since.
The government also accuses Brown of fabricating charitable donations on her federal tax returns from 2008-2014, and in several cases obtaining letters verifying those bogus contributions from an unnamed nonprofit that resembles one run by another close confidant, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Gaffney.
For full story click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-08/story/brown-indictment-alleges-charity-was-slush-fund-trips-luxury-seats-events-car?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
We will see. But if she is found guilty I will not lose any sleep over it. What I would like to know is why do you seem to dislike her so much? "I have personally spent over 12 years investigating her and her actions and know what she is facing."
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 08:08:47 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 07:33:07 PM
From the Times Union moments ago:
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a towering and polarizing figure in Jacksonville politics and government, pleaded not guilty Friday to 24 federal charges that she helped raise about $800,000 for a bogus scholarship fund that turned out to be little more than a personal slush fund for expenses like car repairs, airplane tickets and luxury box seats to a Beyonce concert.
In their 53-page indictment, prosecutors allege Brown and a small group of her longtime confidants funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations through outside organizations or bank accounts to obscure the fact that virtually none of the money went toward charitable causes. Instead, the money was later deposited in Brown's account or withdrawn as cash, paying for vacations in the Bahamas, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
Prosecutors say they were only able to find two scholarships awarded by the group, One Door for Education, totaling $1,200. Brown's close relationship to One Door — and the difficulty tracking charitable work the group had claimed — was the subject of a January Times-Union report and a series of stories since.
The government also accuses Brown of fabricating charitable donations on her federal tax returns from 2008-2014, and in several cases obtaining letters verifying those bogus contributions from an unnamed nonprofit that resembles one run by another close confidant, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Gaffney.
For full story click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-08/story/brown-indictment-alleges-charity-was-slush-fund-trips-luxury-seats-events-car?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
We will see. But if she is found guilty or I will not lose any sleep over it. What I would like to know is why do you seem to dislike her so much? "I have personally spent over 12 years investigating her and her actions and know what she is facing."
I have spent more time than that researching her and interacting with authorities with regard to her actions. It is not personal. It is about her corruption and corrupt politicians in general. I do not cotton to corrupt politicians that make themselves rich via schemes and illegal dealings. She has also held sway over the local election process for far too many years which has put her cronies and supporters into office in order to do her bidding while skirting campaign and election laws to do so. All of this comes at a cost to her constituents needs in many ways. Hers is a very long story of corruption. My question is why do more people not care about corruption in government enough to do the research and then work to expose those involved in underhanded dealings? I have done that now for many, many years. Its about right and wrong, not the individual. There is a single politician who I do not like personally in addition to their politics and that is Rick Scott. It's a visceral thing for me with him.
(http://i.imgur.com/H8NaV96.jpg)
The crush of attention enveloping U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown's sweeping fraud indictment also spotlighted a man who has spent decades in her shadow.
Ronnie Simmons, who pleaded not guilty alongside her in federal court Friday, built a quarter-century career near the Jacksonville Democrat's complex web of politics and alliances.
Yet Simmons, who is Brown's chief of staff, is almost unknown in Jacksonville, where he grew up and graduated from Ribault High School.
The indictment peeled away much of the anonymity that has surrounded the 50-year-old Simmons.
Separate from detailing his connections to One Door for Education, the bogus charity for whom Brown raised money, the indictment said Simmons was responsible for a phantom employee in Brown's Jacksonville office.
The employee, a relative of Simmons who wasn't named, was paid $735,000 over 15 years as a congressional employee for doing little or no work, the indictment said.
For full article click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-07-08/story/after-decades-corrine-browns-shadow-indictment-shines-light-staff-chief?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 08:35:38 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 08:08:47 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 07:33:07 PM
From the Times Union moments ago:
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a towering and polarizing figure in Jacksonville politics and government, pleaded not guilty Friday to 24 federal charges that she helped raise about $800,000 for a bogus scholarship fund that turned out to be little more than a personal slush fund for expenses like car repairs, airplane tickets and luxury box seats to a Beyonce concert.
In their 53-page indictment, prosecutors allege Brown and a small group of her longtime confidants funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations through outside organizations or bank accounts to obscure the fact that virtually none of the money went toward charitable causes. Instead, the money was later deposited in Brown's account or withdrawn as cash, paying for vacations in the Bahamas, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
Prosecutors say they were only able to find two scholarships awarded by the group, One Door for Education, totaling $1,200. Brown's close relationship to One Door — and the difficulty tracking charitable work the group had claimed — was the subject of a January Times-Union report and a series of stories since.
The government also accuses Brown of fabricating charitable donations on her federal tax returns from 2008-2014, and in several cases obtaining letters verifying those bogus contributions from an unnamed nonprofit that resembles one run by another close confidant, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Gaffney.
For full story click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-08/story/brown-indictment-alleges-charity-was-slush-fund-trips-luxury-seats-events-car?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
We will see. But if she is found guilty or I will not lose any sleep over it. What I would like to know is why do you seem to dislike her so much? "I have personally spent over 12 years investigating her and her actions and know what she is facing."
I have spent more time than that researching her and interacting with authorities with regard to her actions. It is not personal. It is about her corruption and corrupt politicians in general. I do not cotton to corrupt politicians that make themselves rich via schemes and illegal dealings. She has also held sway over the local election process for far too many years which has put her cronies and supporters into office in order to do her bidding while skirting campaign and election laws to do so. All of this comes at a cost to her constituents needs in many ways. Hers is a very long story of corruption. My question is why do more people not care about corruption in government enough to do the research and then work to expose those involved in underhanded dealings? I have done that now for many, many years. Its about right and wrong, not the individual. There is a single politician who I do not like personally in addition to their politics and that is Rick Scott. It's a visceral thing for me with him.
I understand what your saying. But most people don't have the time to get involved in investigating corruption in government. Unless that is their job. I would love to investigate how & why the JSO doesn't go after some people in Jacksonville that have accused other people of a crime that were never arrested for, but their lives were screwed up. One would believe that a false police report charge would be given to the accused? But if you have Power in this town they get away with a lot. And the pee-on is forgotten. I heard on rush yesterday a caller, called in and said that 99.9% of the police in America were good cops. I broke out in laughter. Now I bet more good cops out number bad cops. But it isn't 99.9% of them. If the police want more people to believe that a higher number of people like what they are doing. Show it!
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 09, 2016, 07:45:00 AM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 08:35:38 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 08:08:47 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 07:33:07 PM
From the Times Union moments ago:
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a towering and polarizing figure in Jacksonville politics and government, pleaded not guilty Friday to 24 federal charges that she helped raise about $800,000 for a bogus scholarship fund that turned out to be little more than a personal slush fund for expenses like car repairs, airplane tickets and luxury box seats to a Beyonce concert.
In their 53-page indictment, prosecutors allege Brown and a small group of her longtime confidants funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations through outside organizations or bank accounts to obscure the fact that virtually none of the money went toward charitable causes. Instead, the money was later deposited in Brown's account or withdrawn as cash, paying for vacations in the Bahamas, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
Prosecutors say they were only able to find two scholarships awarded by the group, One Door for Education, totaling $1,200. Brown's close relationship to One Door — and the difficulty tracking charitable work the group had claimed — was the subject of a January Times-Union report and a series of stories since.
The government also accuses Brown of fabricating charitable donations on her federal tax returns from 2008-2014, and in several cases obtaining letters verifying those bogus contributions from an unnamed nonprofit that resembles one run by another close confidant, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Gaffney.
For full story click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-08/story/brown-indictment-alleges-charity-was-slush-fund-trips-luxury-seats-events-car?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
We will see. But if she is found guilty or I will not lose any sleep over it. What I would like to know is why do you seem to dislike her so much? "I have personally spent over 12 years investigating her and her actions and know what she is facing."
I have spent more time than that researching her and interacting with authorities with regard to her actions. It is not personal. It is about her corruption and corrupt politicians in general. I do not cotton to corrupt politicians that make themselves rich via schemes and illegal dealings. She has also held sway over the local election process for far too many years which has put her cronies and supporters into office in order to do her bidding while skirting campaign and election laws to do so. All of this comes at a cost to her constituents needs in many ways. Hers is a very long story of corruption. My question is why do more people not care about corruption in government enough to do the research and then work to expose those involved in underhanded dealings? I have done that now for many, many years. Its about right and wrong, not the individual. There is a single politician who I do not like personally in addition to their politics and that is Rick Scott. It's a visceral thing for me with him.
I understand what your saying. But most people don't have the time to get involved in investigating corruption in government. Unless that is their job. I would love to investigate how & why the JSO doesn't go after some people in Jacksonville that have accused other people of a crime that were never arrested for, but their lives were screwed up. One would believe that a false police report charge would be given to the accused? But if you have Power in this town they get away with a lot. And the pee-on is forgotten. I heard on rush yesterday a caller, called in and said that 99.9% of the police in America were good cops. I broke out in laughter. Now I bet more good cops out number bad cops. But it isn't 99.9% of them. If the police want more people to believe that a higher number of people like what they are doing. Show it!
It's a pity and it is frustrating as someone who has done the homework, investigation, fact checking and taken appropriate actions with authorities to deal with corruption for decades and decades. Most folk skim a comment or news posting make a quick determination and form an opinion. When I talk politics and politicians it is backed by years of work, insight and first person experience yet people respond as if my words are formed exactly like the formed their opinions with little done to vette the facts. Further it is so unfortunate to me that people once having heard a fact or read information that they don't like or a agree with, decide to insult the person posting facts and opinion as opposed to address the facts and opinion themselves. That I find telling of their ability to respond with fact or reason and instead simply chose the child's position which is to make an issue a personal attack.
I'm posting the link if anyone want to read the entire story, but there's really nothing new here that hasn't already been covered.
http://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2016/07/corrine-brown-fraud-indictment-one-door-education-foundation-103643
The last line of the story, to me, is what is wrong with so many things. At the least it's just bad form, but at the heart of the comment, it truly shows that our elected officials are expected to be treated differently. At least her attorney thinks so.
The attorney isn't really supposed to be part of the story, but if I were credentialed, I think I'd skip over Brown and ask Elizabeth White to clarify her statement and define what a 'common criminal' is?
QuoteBrown's other lawyer, Elizabeth White, who works at the same firm as Sheppard, said she thought the case was purely political.
"The government's decision to treat Congresswoman Brown like a common criminal instead of a member of Congress shows that this is a politically motivated prosecution," she said.
And this garbage about her missing 'key' votes is just that. Her career missed vote percentage is 4x the average. And this year alone she has already not voted nearly a quarter of the time.
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 09, 2016, 09:02:16 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 09, 2016, 06:57:12 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 09, 2016, 07:45:00 AM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 08:35:38 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 08:08:47 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 07:33:07 PM
From the Times Union moments ago:
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a towering and polarizing figure in Jacksonville politics and government, pleaded not guilty Friday to 24 federal charges that she helped raise about $800,000 for a bogus scholarship fund that turned out to be little more than a personal slush fund for expenses like car repairs, airplane tickets and luxury box seats to a Beyonce concert.
In their 53-page indictment, prosecutors allege Brown and a small group of her longtime confidants funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations through outside organizations or bank accounts to obscure the fact that virtually none of the money went toward charitable causes. Instead, the money was later deposited in Brown's account or withdrawn as cash, paying for vacations in the Bahamas, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
Prosecutors say they were only able to find two scholarships awarded by the group, One Door for Education, totaling $1,200. Brown's close relationship to One Door — and the difficulty tracking charitable work the group had claimed — was the subject of a January Times-Union report and a series of stories since.
The government also accuses Brown of fabricating charitable donations on her federal tax returns from 2008-2014, and in several cases obtaining letters verifying those bogus contributions from an unnamed nonprofit that resembles one run by another close confidant, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Gaffney.
For full story click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-08/story/brown-indictment-alleges-charity-was-slush-fund-trips-luxury-seats-events-car?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
We will see. But if she is found guilty or I will not lose any sleep over it. What I would like to know is why do you seem to dislike her so much? "I have personally spent over 12 years investigating her and her actions and know what she is facing."
I have spent more time than that researching her and interacting with authorities with regard to her actions. It is not personal. It is about her corruption and corrupt politicians in general. I do not cotton to corrupt politicians that make themselves rich via schemes and illegal dealings. She has also held sway over the local election process for far too many years which has put her cronies and supporters into office in order to do her bidding while skirting campaign and election laws to do so. All of this comes at a cost to her constituents needs in many ways. Hers is a very long story of corruption. My question is why do more people not care about corruption in government enough to do the research and then work to expose those involved in underhanded dealings? I have done that now for many, many years. Its about right and wrong, not the individual. There is a single politician who I do not like personally in addition to their politics and that is Rick Scott. It's a visceral thing for me with him.
I understand what your saying. But most people don't have the time to get involved in investigating corruption in government. Unless that is their job. I would love to investigate how & why the JSO doesn't go after some people in Jacksonville that have accused other people of a crime that were never arrested for, but their lives were screwed up. One would believe that a false police report charge would be given to the accused? But if you have Power in this town they get away with a lot. And the pee-on is forgotten. I heard on rush yesterday a caller, called in and said that 99.9% of the police in America were good cops. I broke out in laughter. Now I bet more good cops out number bad cops. But it isn't 99.9% of them. If the police want more people to believe that a higher number of people like what they are doing. Show it!
It's a pity and it is frustrating as someone who has done the homework, investigation, fact checking and taken appropriate actions with authorities to deal with corruption for decades and decades. Most folk skim a comment or news posting make a quick determination and form an opinion. When I talk politics and politicians it is backed by years of work, insight and first person experience yet people respond as if my words are formed exactly like the formed their opinions with little done to vette the facts. Further it is so unfortunate to me that people once having heard a fact or read information that they don't like or a agree with, decide to insult the person posting facts and opinion as opposed to address the facts and opinion themselves. That I find telling of their ability to respond with fact or reason and instead simply chose the child's position which is to make an issue a personal attack.
So what was wrong about my comment. Because just reading yours was a lot of Double Speak to me. :)
Not a thing. I was just supporting your view with my own experiences. I agree with what you said.
(http://i.imgur.com/H7r7MlD.png)
An insightful and informative piece from Mark Woods of the Times Union.
Mark Woods: Corrine delivers. But to whom?
QuoteThe late Tom Slade, former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, once made a comment about Congresswoman Corrine Brown that was both highly critical and complimentary.
"She may be the most ethically challenged member of the U.S. Congress, but when that sign board went up that said, 'Corrine Delivers,' she did," he said.
During her 23 years in Congress, that often has been Brown's reputation. On Friday, at the federal courthouse in downtown Jacksonville, it became something else. Her indictment.
The federal government unsealed a 53-page, 24-count indictment that says that Brown and her chief of staff were so ethically challenged that they used a noble cause — helping underprivileged children with education costs — to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a bogus charity in Virginia.
The indictment basically says that Corrine delivered all right. To herself.
It says Brown's chief of staff withdrew money from the One Door for Education bank account at ATMs near his residence — more than two dozen withdrawals, totaling tens of thousands of dollars — and deposited the cash directly into Brown's personal bank account, for her personal use.
It says that money supposedly headed to poor kids for scholarships actually ended up paying for things like a vacation to the Bahamas and use of a luxury box for a Beyonce concert.
It says that after raising more than $800,000 for One Door For Education, two scholarships were delivered: one for $1,000 in Virginia, the other for $200 in Florida.
For full article click the link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/columnists/mark-woods/2016-07-09/story/mark-woods-corrine-delivers-whom
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 09, 2016, 10:44:07 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 09, 2016, 09:02:16 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 09, 2016, 06:57:12 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 09, 2016, 07:45:00 AM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 08:35:38 PM
Quote from: The_Choose_1 on July 08, 2016, 08:08:47 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 08, 2016, 07:33:07 PM
From the Times Union moments ago:
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a towering and polarizing figure in Jacksonville politics and government, pleaded not guilty Friday to 24 federal charges that she helped raise about $800,000 for a bogus scholarship fund that turned out to be little more than a personal slush fund for expenses like car repairs, airplane tickets and luxury box seats to a Beyonce concert.
In their 53-page indictment, prosecutors allege Brown and a small group of her longtime confidants funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations through outside organizations or bank accounts to obscure the fact that virtually none of the money went toward charitable causes. Instead, the money was later deposited in Brown's account or withdrawn as cash, paying for vacations in the Bahamas, Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
Prosecutors say they were only able to find two scholarships awarded by the group, One Door for Education, totaling $1,200. Brown's close relationship to One Door — and the difficulty tracking charitable work the group had claimed — was the subject of a January Times-Union report and a series of stories since.
The government also accuses Brown of fabricating charitable donations on her federal tax returns from 2008-2014, and in several cases obtaining letters verifying those bogus contributions from an unnamed nonprofit that resembles one run by another close confidant, Jacksonville City Councilman Reginald Gaffney.
For full story click link below.
http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-07-08/story/brown-indictment-alleges-charity-was-slush-fund-trips-luxury-seats-events-car?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
We will see. But if she is found guilty or I will not lose any sleep over it. What I would like to know is why do you seem to dislike her so much? "I have personally spent over 12 years investigating her and her actions and know what she is facing."
I have spent more time than that researching her and interacting with authorities with regard to her actions. It is not personal. It is about her corruption and corrupt politicians in general. I do not cotton to corrupt politicians that make themselves rich via schemes and illegal dealings. She has also held sway over the local election process for far too many years which has put her cronies and supporters into office in order to do her bidding while skirting campaign and election laws to do so. All of this comes at a cost to her constituents needs in many ways. Hers is a very long story of corruption. My question is why do more people not care about corruption in government enough to do the research and then work to expose those involved in underhanded dealings? I have done that now for many, many years. Its about right and wrong, not the individual. There is a single politician who I do not like personally in addition to their politics and that is Rick Scott. It's a visceral thing for me with him.
I understand what your saying. But most people don't have the time to get involved in investigating corruption in government. Unless that is their job. I would love to investigate how & why the JSO doesn't go after some people in Jacksonville that have accused other people of a crime that were never arrested for, but their lives were screwed up. One would believe that a false police report charge would be given to the accused? But if you have Power in this town they get away with a lot. And the pee-on is forgotten. I heard on rush yesterday a caller, called in and said that 99.9% of the police in America were good cops. I broke out in laughter. Now I bet more good cops out number bad cops. But it isn't 99.9% of them. If the police want more people to believe that a higher number of people like what they are doing. Show it!
It's a pity and it is frustrating as someone who has done the homework, investigation, fact checking and taken appropriate actions with authorities to deal with corruption for decades and decades. Most folk skim a comment or news posting make a quick determination and form an opinion. When I talk politics and politicians it is backed by years of work, insight and first person experience yet people respond as if my words are formed exactly like the formed their opinions with little done to vette the facts. Further it is so unfortunate to me that people once having heard a fact or read information that they don't like or a agree with, decide to insult the person posting facts and opinion as opposed to address the facts and opinion themselves. That I find telling of their ability to respond with fact or reason and instead simply chose the child's position which is to make an issue a personal attack.
So what was wrong about my comment. Because just reading yours was a lot of Double Speak to me. :)
Not a thing. I was just supporting your view with my own experiences. I agree with what you said.
OK thanks.
Standing outside of the Federal Court on Friday 7/9 while Corrine Brown was inside being indicted on 24 federal criminal counts, were a group of what appeared to be her supporters. After most of the media left, the handmade signs were collected and in turn those folks received a cash payment. Yup, this is how Corrine rolls. Classic.
The above as reported by the Times Union and whose reporter witness it all.
http://jacksonville.com/news/columnists/mark-woods/2016-07-09/story/mark-woods-corrine-delivers-whom?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 10, 2016, 06:10:16 PM
Standing outside of the Federal Court on Friday 7/9 while Corrine Brown was inside being indicted on 24 federal criminal counts, were a group of what appeared to be her supporters. After most of the media left, the handmade signs were collected and in turn those folks received a cash payment. Yup, this is how Corrine rolls. Classic.
The above as reported by the Times Union and whose reporter witness it all.
http://jacksonville.com/news/columnists/mark-woods/2016-07-09/story/mark-woods-corrine-delivers-whom?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
Now, what does the Clinton Foundation do exactly? :)
Quote from: spuwho on July 10, 2016, 10:03:11 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on July 10, 2016, 06:10:16 PM
Standing outside of the Federal Court on Friday 7/9 while Corrine Brown was inside being indicted on 24 federal criminal counts, were a group of what appeared to be her supporters. After most of the media left, the handmade signs were collected and in turn those folks received a cash payment. Yup, this is how Corrine rolls. Classic.
The above as reported by the Times Union and whose reporter witness it all.
http://jacksonville.com/news/columnists/mark-woods/2016-07-09/story/mark-woods-corrine-delivers-whom?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Florida_Times-Union
Now, what does the Clinton Foundation do exactly? :)
A lot of people are asking that question and there is an official investigation into the foundation happening right now. I can tell you what it won't do though. You won't see the Clinton's bailing Corrine Brown out of this mess. :)
(http://i.imgur.com/oQvwpW4.jpg)
Corrine Brown's investigation is now a trial and it began today. She faces up to 357 years in prison and and a 4.8 million dollar fine. This is reflective of 24 counts of wrongdoing filed against her. The prosecution list is quite impressive including Corrine's own daughter who says she will plead the 5th. The only person of note on the defense is Jesse Jackson. Corrine has lived a life of entitlement until now. She will not walk away from this situation and for the first time in her life face the ramifications of her own hidden wrongdoings.
From today's news:
Prosecutor Tysen Duva told jurors the story of Corrine Brown is one of "lying, cheating and stealing" and it started long before One Door for Education.
"You wish that was the end of the story; that was all that could be said. But sadly, it's not. That's far from it. There's another side: corruption, greed and a significant entitlement attitude," said Duva in his opening remarks.
For full story click the link below:
http://news.wjct.org/post/corrine-brown-trial-begins-jacksonville
So you think she's going to do some hard time?
Tomorrows T-U headline,
"Duva downs the diva!"
Quote from: thelakelander on April 26, 2017, 10:00:49 PM
So you think she's going to do some hard time?
I think the prosecutor's got his work cut out for him proving that Brown did all they're claiming she did. It would be pretty easy to just say the aides who actually moved the money were the ones responsible, and she was in the dark about it and thought it was on the up and up.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 26, 2017, 10:00:49 PM
So you think she's going to do some hard time?
Yes, I do. She has lost most of her buddies in high places that have influence.
Quote from: Tacachale on April 26, 2017, 11:03:03 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on April 26, 2017, 10:00:49 PM
So you think she's going to do some hard time?
I think the prosecutor's got his work cut out for him proving that Brown did all they're claiming she did. It would be pretty easy to just say the aides who actually moved the money were the ones responsible, and she was in the dark about it and thought it was on the up and up.
They have taken their time and done the homework. When her long time aid and buddy flipped on her, that was the opening they needed. The records don't lie and they have records.
From today's news:
"She knew exactly how to lie to these donors, and knew exactly where the cash money was going," Assistant U.S. Attorney Tysen Duva said Wednesday in his opening statement.
Federal prosecutors opened their case by saying that Brown and her associates used One Door to bring in more than $800,000 between 2012 and 2016. They said much of that money was used for lavish trips, $13,582 for tickets to a Beyoncé concert, $15,000 for tickets to a Washington Redskins-Jacksonville Jaguars game, $55,594 for a golf tournament/fundraiser at TPC Sawgrass, shopping excursions in Beverly Hills and other personal expenses.
Duva said evidence will show that more than $140,000 in cash was deposited into Brown's account that didn't come from her salary or retirement income.
Brown's defense portrayed her as an aging lawmaker who was duped by her former chief of staff, Elias "Ronnie" Simmons, who she treated like a son and who handled many of her personal and professional affairs.
For full story click link: http://www.news4jax.com/news/susie-wiles-to-testify-thursday-in-corrine-brown-corruption-trial
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on April 27, 2017, 12:47:36 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on April 26, 2017, 11:03:03 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on April 26, 2017, 10:00:49 PM
So you think she's going to do some hard time?
I think the prosecutor's got his work cut out for him proving that Brown did all they're claiming she did. It would be pretty easy to just say the aides who actually moved the money were the ones responsible, and she was in the dark about it and thought it was on the up and up.
They have taken their time and done the homework. When her long time aid and buddy flipped on her, that was the opening they needed. The records don't lie and they have records.
LOL, so you've seen the evidence? The Feds tend to be pretty hyperbolic no matter what evidence they have.
Quote from: Tacachale on April 27, 2017, 01:44:21 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on April 27, 2017, 12:47:36 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on April 26, 2017, 11:03:03 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on April 26, 2017, 10:00:49 PM
So you think she's going to do some hard time?
I think the prosecutor's got his work cut out for him proving that Brown did all they're claiming she did. It would be pretty easy to just say the aides who actually moved the money were the ones responsible, and she was in the dark about it and thought it was on the up and up.
They have taken their time and done the homework. When her long time aid and buddy flipped on her, that was the opening they needed. The records don't lie and they have records.
LOL, so you've seen the evidence? The Feds tend to be pretty hyperbolic no matter what evidence they have.
I have done years and years of research on her activities and pretty well know her backdoor gaming. Many a document has passed through my hands to authorities. There is so much that the public does not know about Corrine's dealings. We will see soon enough whether or not she walks away from this mess. She has skirted the law in the past but I don't believe she will be able to do so again. She is of no political value to either the Dem's or the R's right now and that will have a huge impact on how this goes down.
From today's testimony:
Simmons responded by sending a letter detailing the history of the charity. In that letter, it said the group funded scholarships for students in Loudon County, Va., who wanted to pursue teaching.
Bondi said she told Alcalde the group was eligible to receive money from the firm's political action committee. She said Alcalde decided to donate $25,000 — with the understanding that it would pay for scholarships.
When asked if anyone ever told her the money would be deposited into the personal account of Brown, she replied: "Absolutely not."
Brown's attorney, James Smith, asked if Simmons told her whether the money would be used to help pay for an event in Charlotte, N.C.
Bondi said her understanding was the event would highlight the work of One Door, but that the money was to solely pay for scholarships.
Prosecutors then called Michael Ward, the former CEO of CSX.
Ward said Brown was one of several key members of Congress he developed a relationship with while working for the railroad company. He said he had "more of a business relationship" with Brown than a personal one.
Ward said he first heard of One Door in January 2013. He said his office received a letter asking for donations for sending people to Obama's inauguration. After he received the letter, he said Brown told him about a different cause during a personal conversation in his office.
Instead, Brown told him the money would pay for iPads for students who had good attendance or earned good grades. He said he thought that was an appropriate cause and cut a $10,000 check.
Ward would make another $10,000 donation in July in relation to a golf tournament fundraiser, as well as a $10,000 donation in July 2015 after receiving a letter from Brown's office seeking money for a student trip to China.
"If anyone told you your donations would be for the personal use of Brown, would you have made them?" asked lead prosecutor A. Tysen Duva.
"Absolutely not," Ward replied.
Prosecutors presented a third check from Ward made out to One Door for Education.
For full story click this link: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-04-27/witnesses-agree-money-donated-scholarships-not-corrine-brown-s-personal-use?utm_medium=social&utm_source=The_Florida_Times-Union
More insights from today's testimony.
A whopping $330,000 — that's how much prosecutors said sham charity One Door for Education spent on nine events connected to former Congresswoman Corrine Brown between 2012 and 2015.
Jurors heard testimony Thursday from an FBI investigator and donors, detailing spending on lavish parties, a Beyonce concert and VIP seats for a Jaguars game.
Prosecutors argue business leaders and philanthropists donated money to One Door with the understanding it would go to scholarships and opportunities for disadvantaged students. But FBI investigators said bank records and tax documents show just $10,000 of all the donations actually went to that mission. A little more than $1,000 made it to students' education out of the more than $800,000 One Door raised during its operation.
Click link for full report. http://news.wjct.org/post/prosecutor-brown-fraud-trial-sham-charity-raised-330k-roughly-1k-went-education
One Door's founder admits 'charity' was slush fund for Corrine Brown
Carla Wiley testifies Monday in former congresswoman's trial
Click link for story:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/investigations/corrine-brown/inner-circle-testimony-looms-as-case-preps-for-another-week
Corrine Brown aide: former congresswoman directed cash into her account
Click link for full story and updates on the trial.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-05-01/corrine-brown-aide-former-congresswoman-directed-cash-her-account#gig_comment_id=05dcca66762f497688de4878da056651
From today, there sure seem to be an awful lot of connections to one Mr Reginald Gaffney and his not for profit. Perhaps will lead to further investigation of him??
Quote from: edjax on May 02, 2017, 04:11:20 PM
From today, there sure seem to be an awful lot of connections to one Mr Reginald Gaffney and his not for profit. Perhaps will lead to further investigation of him??
He is already being investigated.
A composed and collected Simmons testified Wednesday morning that he had been signing blank checks from the Friends of Corrine Brown PAC account and handing them to Brown since 1993.
He said he didn't have access to her personal bank account, but he did have access to her congressional account and that he controlled the Friends of Corrine Brown account and the One Door for Education Foundation account. The unregistered One Door charity is at the center of the government's case against Brown.
Federal investigators said the foundation, billed as a way to give scholarships to poor students, raised $833,000, but only gave out one $1,200 scholarship.
For full story: http://www.news4jax.com/news/investigations/corrine-brown/browns-former-chief-of-staff-to-tesify-about-diverting-charity-funds_
Update: 5:10 p.m.: Former Jacksonville Sheriff Nathaniel Glover, president of Edward Waters College, told jurors Wednesday afternoon the school had no records that former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown donated $9,500 in cash to the school in 2011, even though Brown claimed the donation on her tax returns.
Prosecutors showed Glover a letter from the school thanking Brown for the donation, which also served as an official record she could use to deduct the donation from her taxes.
High-profile donors say Brown personally directed money to bogus charity, assured them of its charitable work
Corrine Brown's trial features big-name witnesses to test charges
"President Glover, do you find that letter troubling" asked lead prosecutor A. Tysen Duva.
"Yes," Glover replied.
Prosecutors ended the sixth day of their case with testimony from employees and former employees of Edward Waters College, the Community Rehabilitation Center and the Clara White Mission.
Brown claimed on her tax forms to donate tens of thousands of dollars in cash to those nonprofits between 2011 and 2014. The witnesses said they had no records of any cash donations for those years.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-05-03/witnesses-deny-corrine-brown-donated-money-organizations
Friday Update: After emotional testimony, Corrine Brown says, 'Pray for me'QuoteBrown, 70, represented a Jacksonville congressional district from 1993-2016. She lost re-election after she was indicted last summer. On the stand, she said she didn't know about the scheme until after the indictment was filed, and that her only mistake was being too trusting of Simmons, and perhaps too laissez-faire about her personal finances.
"I got so busy ... that I wasn't taking care of Corrine's business," she said. "I made mistakes -- not paying close attention, and not taking care of me."
Duva pointed out in cross-examination that being a member of Congress is a demanding job that requires high intelligence -- the opposite of the portrait Brown sought to portray of herself on Thursday.
Duva pointed out that Brown had mastered the intricacies of the complicated federal budget process, and been successful over her decades in office in winning money and jobs for her district.
"You had a slogan. What was the slogan?" Duva asked Brown.
"Corrine delivers," she responded.
Full article: http://www.news4jax.com/news/on-stand-corrine-brown-blames-theft-on-top-aide
Oh Jacksonville!
Judge excuses juror in Corrine Brown trial after complaints over comments about 'higher beings'
PDATE: 3:05 p.m.: Jurors in former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown's fraud trial asked Wednesday about the proof needed to convict a defendant of mail fraud.
The law lays out four components of fraud, and the jurors wanted to know whether the government had to show a defendant was involved in all four.
See Also
Removal of juror resets deliberations in Corrine Brown's federal trial
21 jurors eliminated from Corrine Brown fraud trial jury pool
The answer is yes, attorneys for both sides told U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan, who said it might be the shortest answer he had ever delivered to a jury question.
It wasn't an exciting question, but the jury's decision about that is important. There are seven counts of mail fraud, and each carries a potential sentence of 20 years behind bars.
Mail fraud involves sending material through the mail or with a carrier like FedEx to cheat another person out of money. Several witnesses were asked during Brown's trial about lealets or letters seeking donations to the sham charity One Door for Education, and about checks that were sent overnight between states.
UPDATE: 11:20 a.m.: Jurors in former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown's fraud trial asked the judge Wednesday morning about Brown's responsibility for information on her tax forms if she didn't fill out the forms herself.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan essentially told the jury to go back and read the directions they were given when they started deliberating.
Among the 22 counts Brown faces are three charges of filing a false tax return. A fourth count charges that she obstructed the administration of tax laws by filing returns that claimed deductible donations for thousands of dollars of giving she didn't do and underreported her income.
Brown acknowledged last week that some of the donations on her returns, including a $5,000 gift to the sham charity One Door for Education, never happened.
But Brown said she had relied on staff from her congressional office to put together information that a tax preparer used. She said she didn't know why the deductions were on her tax returns.
When the jury question was read at 11:10 a.m., Corrigan asked attorneys for both sides for their thoughts, and both said the judge should reference the directions the jury already had.
UPDATE: 10:40 a.m.: U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan excused a juror Wednesday in former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown's federal fraud trial after receiving a complaint the previous night from another juror who said a colleague had talked for days about "higher beings" and Brown.
Click link for full story.
http://jacksonville.com/metro/news/2017-05-10/judge-excuses-juror-corrine-brown-trial-after-complaints-over-comments-about
Verdict in on Corrine Brown trial. To be announced in about 5 minutes.
Any predictions?
Guilty on at least a few counts. The IRS false tax return issue was pretty damning. Who makes over 100k in a year in gifts?
Corrine Brown......Verdict is unanimous
Count one...... GUILTY
Count two Guilty
Count four Guilty
So far Guilty on main charge
So far only two of 13 counts are not guilty.
Stand by, last counts on income tax fraud to come.
Guilty on all counts of Income Tax fraud!
Found guilty of 18 of the 22 counts with the main count "Guilty"!
So will she be put in jail today?
Probably not. She's not going anywhere and not a threat to society.
IANAL but if you're out on bond you do not go to prison until you have been sentenced, right?
They will not jail her today. She no longer has a passport and is not a flight risk. There is no way that she will not do some hard time. She will likely get some hard time and major fines. She is now back to her conditions of bail and there will not be sentencing for another 90 days. Remember she is guilty of the main count and a total of 18 out of 22 counts. She is looking at minimum of 5 to 7 years. The charges for which she was found guilty are very serious.
This ruling also means that Congress woman Brown just lost her entire pension,
Nothing on national news outlets...
Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 11, 2017, 02:49:44 PM
Nothing on national news outlets...
It will be soon enough. Another black eye on the surface for Jacksonville redeemed by the reality that today's verdict which was unanimous has exposed Brown to be a thief and a liar. She is guilty of so much more which her flamboyance hid for years. The truth has now been exposed.
National press is infatuated with Trump right now.
It will make a byline when the story reaches the wire services.
It's on the front page of Fox News...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/11/ex-rep-corrine-brown-guilty-on-fraud-tax-evasion-charges.html
Quote from: thelakelander on May 11, 2017, 03:10:24 PM
It's on the front page of Fox News...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/05/11/ex-rep-corrine-brown-guilty-on-fraud-tax-evasion-charges.html
And this was picked up from the associated press. Her conviction on these charged is not world wide news.
Why am I not surprised that Fox News is interested in the story of a democratic rep being convicted?
Quote from: Jim on May 11, 2017, 03:30:09 PM
Why am I not surprised that Fox News is interested in the story of a democratic rep being convicted?
Rofl... same reason there is nothing about it on CNN or Huffpo yet...lol...
Fox & Friends covered Corrine's situation (not up to date though).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7lp8ixxpRg
The FBI Jacksonville Division released a statement about the verdict:
"Former Congresswoman Brown took an oath year after year to serve others, but instead she exploited the needs of children and deceived her constituents to advance her own personal and political agendas. Corrupt public officials undermine the integrity of our government and violate the public's trust, and that is why investigating public corruption remains the FBI's top criminal priority. I am proud of our special agents, analysts and support personnel who spent countless hours following the money trail in this case, and thank our law enforcement partners at the IRS-CI and U.S. Attorney's Office for their efforts to hold Brown and her associates accountable for their inexcusable actions."
I did some more research into the possible sentence Corrine could face. The main charged she was found guilty of was:
923. 18 U.S.C. § 371—Conspiracy to Defraud the United States
As it stands I can find no minimum sentence requirement, just a maximum. The parameter of sentencing appears to be, Sentencing and Punishment for Federal Conspiracy Charges. Legal experts are saying that considering the gravity of the charges and the number she was convicted on she will likely get 5 years. However, I can find no minimum sentencing requirement save for one where she is given some sort of supervised penalty which if violated would require a minimum of two years in jail.
punishment for federal conspiracy laws
If you are convicted of federal conspiracy under 18 USC 371, you face up to 5 years in federal prison.
If you are convicted of violating 18 U.S. Code 371, you face a sentence of up to 5 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000.8 In the case of conspiracy by organizations, you face a fine of up to $500,000.90
However, Corrine just delivered a statement that claims she is innocent so we can all anticipate years of litigation ahead.
I am sure Miss Corrine will have some "health" issues arise quite shortly now.
So kids, I am going to go ahead and make a prediction about where this is all headed.
Corrine will be sentenced on all of the counts she was found guilty of in 90 days. Even is she is sentenced to hard time which for the first count is up to 5 years in prison, or prison time for any of the other crimes, she will be released on some sort of supervised provision that will allow her to remain out of prison until all the appeals are settled. The reasoning will be based upon her age which is 70 and the position that she is neither a flight risk (she has no passport) or a risk to society. She may never see any jail time if the process takes long enough and you can bet her attorneys will file any and all appeals allowed under the law.
Quote from: edjax on May 11, 2017, 05:02:30 PM
I am sure Miss Corrine will have some "health" issues arise quite shortly now.
Count on it.
Corrine Brown's request for a new trial has been denied. She will be sentenced in November of this year.
For full story click link:
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/judge-denies-corrine-browns-motions-for-acquittal-or-new-trial
2015-765 the total collapse of Ethics and the Public Trust in Duval County. Pull the tape.