Demonstrators, leaders rally to support Corrine Brown

Congresswoman indicted on 24 federal counts

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown heard the federal charges against her for the first time Friday, demonstrators gathered outside the Federal Courthouse in Jacksonville to show their support for the 12-term congresswoman.

Brown pleaded not guilty to 22 federal counts of conspiracy and fraud resulting from an FBI probe of a fraudulent education charity that the Justice Department shut down in March.

Brown, 69, of Jacksonville, and her chief of staff, Elias “Ronnie” Simmons, 50, of Laurel, Maryland, were indicted for charges related to the fraudulent education charity based in Virginia. The indictment was unsealed Friday morning.

Denise Hunt, who said she represents Neglected Taxpayers of Northwest Jacksonville, said she and the other protesters want the city to remember what Brown has done for the community.

“She has delivered for this city time and time again,” Hunt said. “These people, they may not know all the implications, but they took the time to come out today and hold a sign to say that Jacksonville says no to inequality, injustice, and we demand justice today.”

According to the indictment, Brown used money from her campaign to give to the charity, One Door for Education and, at times, deposited some of that money into her own personal bank account.

Both Brown and Simmons are charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, multiple counts of mail and wire fraud, concealing material facts on required financial disclosure forms, theft of government property, obstruction of the due administration of the internal revenue laws, and filing false tax returns.

But Hunt said she believes Brown was targeted.

“This is the culmination of years of just going after this lady relentlessly, until they finally got an indictment. We say it's wrong. We say it's erroneous, and we demand that she get equality, fairness and justice,” Hunt said. “We know that this is a racialized witch hunt on black leadership in Duval County, and today we say no, we're not standing for it. We're tired of it.”

WATCH: Pastors voice support for Corrine Brown

Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr., Brown's pastor at Bethel Church, stood shoulder to shoulder with the congresswoman Friday as she emerged from the courthouse and answered questions from reporters.

“She has been a voice for the voiceless, a liberator for those who have been oppressed,” McKissick said. “She has fought tirelessly for those beyond race, creed, nationality and religion. I'm saddened that we have come to this point.”

Fellow lawmakers and other local leaders also rallied behind the congresswoman, voicing their support.

“I believe as elected officials, we have a cohort together as well, just like law enforcement. They band together. Military, we band together. I felt it was important to go out and show support to the congresswoman,” Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown said. “I believe she's done a lot of great things for Jacksonville, and I wanted to let her know my appreciation by supporting her.”

WATCH: Councilman shows support for Corrine Brown

Reggie Brown said he read the indictment Friday and he believes the congresswoman has a good case.

“I do believe that justice will prevail,” he said. “I will tell you this, she has one of the best attorneys on the planet right now, so she is in good hands. Again justice will prevail. She will be fine. Reading the indictments, I believe that she will be fine.”

A fellow member of the House of Representatives, whose district borders Corrine Brown's, said it's important to let the justice system work.

"Under the circumstances, we are all holding our breath and waiting to see what happens. Ultimately some judge, some jury is going to decide after they've heard all the evidence," Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., said.

He said Brown has done a lot of good for her district.

“Of course, people want somebody in office who is honest. That goes without saying,” Grayson said. “What they want more than anything is somebody that is going to improve their lives in tangible ways, and I think she has done that over the years.”

State Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, also came to Brown's defense. She released a statement saying in part that Brown trusted the wrong person.

“Congresswoman Brown has devoted countless hours to her constituents while balancing legislative and personal life, in a district that had suffered from institutional neglect for years,” Gibson said. “I look forward to her exoneration when the true facts are laid out.”

Not all reaction positive 

Others on Capitol Hill said they were concerned about the allegations of fraud and corruption, especially against someone who has so much power.

“They absolutely should know better, and they are surrounded by a staff that is supposed to be protecting them from making stupid mistakes,” said Jeff Lewis, national director of the Patriot Coalition. "If she is guilty, she needs to go to prison."

Ford Fischer, executive producer and managing editor of News2Share, said the charges lodged against Brown are scary.

"It is appalling, but not surprising," Fischer said. "Politicians these days need to be held more accountable. And I am at least glad that we are seeing an indictment, unlike many other controversies recently where I don't think there is the political willpower to indict elected officials."

Brown's staff in Washington declined to comment Friday.

Man claims his money was taken by Brown's charity

One man, who was in court for Brown's hearing Friday, was not there in support of her. He was there because he claims his money was taken by the congresswoman's charity.

Rev. Anthony Beeks said a former business partner wrote check to Brown's charity without his authorization. He said that as soon as he realized what was going on, he reported it to the authorities. 

He said he's frustrated that his money is gone. 

"We never gave him permission to write $8,000. By him working so closely with Mrs. Brown, we figured there is some kind of connection and conversation between him and Mrs. Brown to write those checks. And we don't know where," Beeks said. " It's gone."

Beeks said that money could have been used for much better purposes.

"Especially to my daughter, who is going to the University of Florida. She's been accepted to the University of Florida. It could have been used to help pay for her tuition and housing and everything else."

Beeks said he's hopeful that full restitution will be paid if Brown is convicted. He isn't sure what the outcome will be, but he said he will follow the case all the way through.


About the Authors:

Lifetime Jacksonville resident anchors the 8 and 9 a.m. weekday newscasts and is part of the News4Jax I-Team.