She’s got ‘proven experience’ — and a prison record

How race and identity are shaping politics, policy and power.

Aug 12, 2022 View in browser   By Nancy Vu With help from Brakkton Booker, Rishika Dugyala and Teresa Wiltz POLITICO Illustration/Getty Images What's happening, Recast family! The House is back in session to pass its sweeping climate, tax and health care bill. The average price of gas dips below $4 nationally and Attorney General Merrick Garland calls Trump world's bluff and moves to release the warrant that led to the FBI search on Mar-a-Lago. First though, we talk with another ex-Florida politician attempting a comeback.  Former Rep. Corrine Brown is running in the most competitive Democratic primary in Florida. Nine others are clawing for the nomination for a seat left open by Senate-hopeful Rep. Val Demings. Brown says what distinguishes her from the others in the primary is her "proven experience" during her near-quarter century of service in the U.S. House. So does her record as a convicted felon for tax fraud. That case derailed a career that had once been part of a historic breakthrough. Brown, along with the late Reps. Alcee Hastings and Carrie Meek were the first Black lawmakers to represent Florida since Reconstruction after their elections in 1992. But as the 75-year-old Brown charts a path back to Congress, she finds it difficult to escape the more checkered parts of her career. In 2016, she, along with her chief of staff Elias "Ronnie" Simmons, were indicted on 24 federal charges of wire and tax fraud tied to the creation of a bogus charity used as a slush fund for personal expenses. The nonprofit, called "One Door for Education," raised more than $800,000 with the narrative that this money would be going toward lower-income students ― but ultimately gave out only two scholarships totaling $1,200. The remainder of the funds went to events Brown attended, such as professional football games and "the use of a luxury box during a Beyoncé concert," according to the indictment. Following her indictment, she lost her primary to now Rep. Al Lawson Jr. (D-Fla.) in 2016, and was later found guilty on 18 counts . She served more than two years of her five-year sentence and was released on humanitarian grounds due to the coronavirus pandemic. The initial conviction was overturned on appeal last year ― but to avoid a second trial, Brown agreed to a plea deal earlier this year that resulted in her pleading guilty to one count of tax fraud and paying restitution of more than $62,000 to the IRS in exchange for the other charges being dropped. On the campaign trail, Brown is touting the seniority she'd bring with her back to Congress as well as taking a firm stance against Donald Trump's Republican Party (even though there were efforts on her behalf to persuade the former president to pardon Brown while she was in prison). In our discussion, which at times got contentious, we talked about why she wants to return to Congress — and her plans to champion criminal justice reforms. ◆◆◆ This interview has been edited for length and clarity. THE RECAST: You served your constituents for nearly a quarter-century in Congress representing Florida. Now you're attempting a comeback that will be remarkable, some say even improbable. How will you characterize your victory if you win your Democratic primary later this month? BROWN: I didn't just decide to run. People approached me and said, "We don't have a voice." I've represented this area for over 24 years. When I took office, the area had been trying to get a VA hospital. But 25 years on my watch, we got nine. We hadn't built one in this county for 15 years, and the best one is here in Orlando. And so that's just the kind of stuff that I've done, the kind of work really, for the community.   Every week, we sit down with diverse and influential characters who are shaking up politics. Who should we profile next? Let us know. Email us at  therecast@politico.com .   THE RECAST: So going back to the original question, how would you characterize your win, if you do win? BROWN: Well, I got to say the Lord. He opened doors for me and brought people to support me. I'm happy where I am. I'm not there. But I'm almost there. THE RECAST: Traditionally, constituents like to hold their elected officials to the highest moral and ethical standards. But you were convicted on a number of fraud charges back in 2017 and pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud in May. Why should voters put their trust in you? BROWN: Well, what they should put their trust in is my experience and how I know how to get things done. If you do a little bit of the research, all of the charges were thrown out not once, but twice ― except one charge and that is something that I am going to work on. You cannot [ have 4 percent of women ] in the world population [account for] 33 percent of women in prison, first-time offenses, [who are] nonviolent [and] with children. You lose your Social Security and the children become homeless. It's a vicious cycle, and it needs to change. Washington has changed. I don't know that it has changed for the best. But I will be able to work bipartisanly to get things done for this area ― I've always done it and I will do it again. THE RECAST: You still pleaded guilty to the tax fraud charge though. BROWN: I've told you, one tax charge. Pay the restitution and it's over. And let me tell you something ― my mother had just passed away, and I'm talking about going to court fighting them every step of the way. I needed to do something to bring closure to my family and my constituents, and I did it. I'm going to work on a system that is not fair to people, period. And people are going to decide who they want to represent them in the United States Congress. They will decide whether they want somebody that can hit the ground running. Then Rep. Corrine Brown talks with the press in August 2015. Federal prosecutors opposed her request to remain free on bond while she appeals her fraud sentence. | AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File THE RECAST: Let's switch the conversation to Donald Trump. You'll be representing Florida, the adoptive home of former President Trump. Do you feel like his norm-busting time in the Oval Office has changed how constituents view politicians today? BROWN: All you have to do is look at what happened on January the 6th. It's something that's happened in this country that needs to be healed. You had the March on Washington, where over 300 people got arrested, but on January the 6th, not one person got arrested. It's something wrong with that picture. The system is not operating to the benefit of all other people. [**Editor's note: This interview took place before FBI officials searched the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate. Also important to note that there were several people arrested on Jan 6, evidenced by the dozens of arrests  by both the Metropolitan Police Department and the Capitol Police that day. ] THE RECAST: I wanted to get into your time serving in federal prison and how that changed you. I saw that you made criminal justice reform part of your campaign platform, so I wanted to dig into the backstory of that. BROWN: The only thing I want to say about it is, when I was in there, it was a camp. That's what Martha Stewart said. And that's what Corrine Brown said. When I went to the camp, it was a spiritual desert. I was able to bring in religious leaders and change the complex. I counseled people the entire time I was there. You had to have an appointment to see me because there were so many people that actually didn't know anything about the government and what they needed to do. Brown's election to Congress was been nothing short of historic. But her legacy is somewhat of a mixed bag. | AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin THE RECAST: Can you go a little further into that? BROWN: I think you need to move on. THE RECAST: You're running for the seat that's been vacated by Rep. Val Demings, who's running for the Senate. You're running in a crowded field that includes former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson and state Sen. Randolph Bracy. What's your message to voters about why they should vote for you and not other candidates? BROWN: Experience, leadership, seniority. That's what I have. THE RECAST: They also have experience within government as well. BROWN: No, ma'am. No, ma'am. Someone is running around saying they have legislative experience ― but not one day have they voted in the United States Congress. I was in the United States Congress for 24 years. Not one other person can say that. Not one other can say that they have the experience, the know-how on how to get things done. Then President Barack Obama leaves Air Force One with then Rep. Corinne Brown in February 2016. | AP Photo/Rick Wilson THE RECAST: But I think we have to also acknowledge that former Rep. Grayson also has experience within the House of Representatives too. So what distinguishes you from him? BROWN: He is running his campaign and I'm running mine. But I was not talking about him. There are several people that's running, that's talking about what they're going to do when they get to Washington. He at least can say he's done something. And it's not just talk. THE RECAST: Florida's 10th Congressional District is very diverse . It's roughly one-third white, one-third Black and one-third Latino. What role do you think race plays in the primary? BROWN: I really don't know. I think experience plays a key role in the primary. The United States Congress is not a training ground. ◆◆◆ Well, so much for those slow August news days, right? So much to get to, but not before we give a shoutout to our very own Teresa Wiltz. She won an Edward R. Murrow Award for her collaboration with NPR on the practice of states sending kids to foster care and billing parents they were separated from . Go on wit ya bad self Teresa! A quick round up of campaign news here. In Texas, gubernatorial nominee Beto O'Rourke drops a well-timed " motherfucker " on the campaign trail that rivals Samuel L. Jackson.  In Georgia, GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker takes to Twitter to rail against what he calls a " dirty attack ad "  that included footage of Walker's ex-wife detailing abuse she suffered during their marriage.  And in Washington state, GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of the 10 Republicans to vote to impeach Donald Trump, concedes in her primary election .   Speaking of elections … calling all hotties ! Today marks the 5th anniversary of the violence at the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., where a white nationalist driver plowed through counterprotesters, injuring dozens and killing Heather Heyer, a paralegal and anti-racist protester. Survivors of that day tell their stories to POLITICO magazine. In other news, Angela Yee, one-third of "The Breakfast Club" trio, is leaving the popular news and culture program, and is getting her own radio show this fall . The TV version of "A League of Their Own" makes its debut . So does "Five Days at Memorial" which dramatizes the harrowing aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in one New Orleans hospital. Remezcla always has the best music from up-and-coming and already arrived Latine artists. Some of our favorites: Xiomara Fortuna's musical mashup, "Jardinera " and Helado Negro's collab with Buscabulla,  "Agosto." (August) . The new season of Mindy Kaling's " Never Have I Ever" dropped today . Get ready for a rollercoaster of new love interests, college talk and more Indian American culture. This week, NPR's Tiny Desk (Home) Concert features the SFJazz Collective . TikTok of the Day: Cute! Even if he doesn't quite get the command!   Follow us on Twitter Brakkton Booker @brakktonbooker Rishika Dugyala @rishikadugyala Teresa Wiltz @teresawiltz   Follow us

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