Former Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown, convicted on corruption charges, to run for Congress again



Convicted felon, tax cheat, and former Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown will attempt to mount a political comeback by running for Congress again this year.

A new release reported by WJXT-TV announced Brown's candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 10th Congressional District, which represents much of the Orlando area. It states that the former congresswoman, who pleaded guilty last month to a federal tax fraud charge, will seek the seat currently held by Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), who is running to challenge Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

“I’ve represented most of the people of the new 10th District during my 24 years in Congress and I always earned huge support in this region,” Brown said in a statement. “Now I see our hard-won gains are being taken away from us."

Brown, 75, pleaded guilty to one count of tax fraud last month after she admitted that she lied to the Internal Revenue Service about her income and about deductions she had claimed. She was sentenced to 32 months of time served and was ordered to pay $62,650 in restitution fees to the IRS.

She was previously convicted in 2017 for 18 fraud and tax crimes related to a scheme to funnel money from a fake children's charity into her personal bank accounts. Brown's sentencing judge called her crimes "especially shameless" at the time, since she had robbed children of promised opportunities to fund her own lavish lifestyle. She was sentenced to serve five years in prison but was released on humanitarian grounds in April 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, last year, an appeals court overturned Brown's conviction after it ruled that the judge was wrong to have dismissed a juror who claimed "the Holy Spirit" had told him Brown was innocent. Prosecutors had sought to re-try the case, but her plea deal puts the matter to rest.

In her release, Brown said her experience shows "the inequality of the American judicial system."

“There are far too many innocent people wrongly imprisoned,” Brown said. “Too many people whose lives have been ruined because of a racially biased and broken judicial system. And there are too many people who are being overlooked and underpaid by both the State of Florida and the federal government. If nobody else is going to stand up to right these wrongs and fight for those who are being denied their God given rights to freedom, justice, and the ability to participate in our democratic system, I will!”

Before her fraud case, Brown served in Congress from 1993 until 2017.

Ron DeSantis signs curriculum transparency and school board term limit bill into law



On Friday, Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law establishing term limits for members of Florida’s school boards and giving Florida residents increased access to educational materials available to students.

Prior to singing HB-1467 into law, echoing his longstanding commitment to the rights of parents, DeSantis said, “We believe parents not only have a role, they have the fundamental role to be involved in the education of their kids, and that’s how it’s going to be in the state of Florida,” WFTV-ABC in Orlando reported.

A press release from the governor’s office indicates that the new law places 12-year consecutive term limits for members of school boards in the sunshine state and “requires school districts to be transparent in the selection of instructional materials, including library and reading materials.”

The press release stated that “As a part of the Year of the Parent, this legislation aims to preserve the rights of parents to make decisions about what materials their children are exposed to in school.”

DeSantis said, “In Florida, our parents have every right to be involved in their child’s education. We are not going to let politicians deny parents the right to know what is being taught in our schools. I’m proud to sign this legislation that ensures curriculum transparency.”

Wilton Simpson, the President of the Florida Senate, said, “While teachers, school administrators, and school board members have a tremendous amount of authority over what and how our kids are taught in school, at the end of the day, parents — not schools — are responsible for raising children.”

He continued, “Florida parents are seeking greater involvement in many aspects of our education system, and this legislation speaks to that effort. The books our kids are reading in schools need to have proper vetting. Parents have a right, and a responsibility, to be involved in that process. Not all books are appropriate for every grade level. This legislation makes sure that we have a transparent and consistent process for public participation in the review of books and other materials used in school lessons and in the school library.”

“Governor DeSantis has shown time and time again that he is not afraid to fight for the rights of parents and understands the importance that they have a seat at the table when it comes to their child’s education,” the Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said. “I’m grateful for the Governor’s guidance and the voices of many parents, who have come forward and demands that parents be seen as a partner in their child’s education.”

This new law requires school districts in Florida to hold public meetings for the purpose of selecting instructional materials and provide the public with ample notice of when and where the meetings will be held.

It also stipulates that the school districts must provide access to all materials no-less than 20 days before the school board takes official action on proposed instructional material.

The state Department of Education is also compelled by law to publish a list of materials that have been removed or discontinued by the school board and disseminate the list to school districts within the state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill banning biological males from competing on women's sports teams

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill banning biological males from competing on women's sports teams



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed Tuesday a version of the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act" into law, prohibiting males who identify as transgender females from competing on female sports teams in high school and college.

"We believe in the state of Florida, of protecting the fairness and the integrity of women's athletics," DeSantis said at the signing ceremony, standing onstage with teenage girl athletes from Trinity Christian Academy.

"And I can tell you this in Florida, you know, girls are going to play girls' sports and boys are going play boys' sports, that's what we're doing. We're going to make sure that that's the reality," he continued. "So the bill that we're doing today will ensure fairness for women athletes for years to come in the state of Florida. It says that athletic teams or sports that are designated for females are open to females. And we're going to go based off biology."

DeSantis signed the bill even though the National Collegiate Athletic Association threatened to pull its championship games out of states that "discriminate" against transgender athletes. Other companies warned that they would pull their business out of Florida because of the bill. DeSantis didn't care.

"Some of these organizations say they're not going to hold events if you do this, just let me say very clearly, in Florida, we're going to do what's right, will stand up to corporations, they are not going to dictate the policies in this state," the governor said. "We will stand up to groups like the NCAA, who think that they should be able to dictate the policies in different states."

Democrats and LGBT activists opposed the legislation as well, characterizing the bill as "unnecessary" and accused Florida Republicans of acting hatefully toward transgender persons.

Some critics observed that DeSantis signed the bill on June 1, the first day of National LGBTQ Pride Month, which in their view added insult to injury.

"Appalling," tweeted state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando). "First day of LGBTQ Pride Month and Gov. Ron DeSantis signs SB 1028 which bans trans kids from school sports. FHSAA has allowed trans kids to participate in FL since 2013 with ZERO problems. This fuels transphobia and puts vulnerable kids at risk for no good reason."

"By signing a heartless ban on transgender kids in sports, @GovRonDeSantis is marginalizing an entire community," Florida agriculture commissioner Niki Fried tweeted. "Signing it on the first day of #Pride2021 is especially cruel."

Fried, the only Florida Democrat currently holding statewide elected office, announced a bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge DeSantis for governor Tuesday.

"Florida should stand for inclusivity, equality, and liberty — not peddling hate for political points," she said.

A standalone version of the Fairness in Women's Sports Act had previously died in the state legislature, but Republicans revived the bill as an amendment to a larger bill related to charter schools.

The final version of the bill removed some of the most controversial portions in the first draft, including a requirement that student athletes undergo testosterone or genetic testing and have their genitalia examined before joining sports teams.

Almost immediately after DeSantis signed the bill, the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, declared it would sue Florida.

"The Human Rights Campaign will always stand up to anti-equality forces on behalf of transgender kids, and that is exactly what we plan to do by legally challenging this ban on the participation of transgender girls and women in sports," HRC President Alphonso David said in a statement. "Gov. DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are legislating based on a false, discriminatory premise that puts the safety and well-being of transgender children on the line. Transgender kids are kids; transgender girls are girls. Like all children, they deserve the opportunity to play sports with their friends and be a part of a team. Transgender youth must not be deprived of the opportunity to learn important skills of sportsmanship, healthy competition, and teamwork. The harmful provisions added to SB 1028 will not just impact transgender people in Florida. All Floridians will have to face the consequences of this anti-transgender legislation — including economic harm, expensive taxpayer-funded legal battles, and a tarnished reputation. In Florida, we are ensuring that there are legal consequences to pay for being on the wrong side of history."

The bill's supporters say legislation was needed to prevent unfair competition in women's sports.

"This bill is very simply about making sure that women can safely compete, have opportunities and physically be able to excel in a sport that they trained for, prepared for and work for," said state Sen. Kelli Stargel, who sponsored the legislation.

"This is nothing about anybody being discriminated against," she said. "It's solely so that women have an opportunity to compete in women's sports."

Florida joins West Virginia, Montana, and Idaho in banning transgender athletes from competing in women's sports.

Watch:

Florida sheriff tells new residents don't 'vote the stupid way you did up north' as Gov. DeSantis signs anti-rioting law



A Florida sheriff on Monday advised new residents of the state who moved south from liberal states against "voting the stupid way you did up north."

The remarks were made by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd during a news conference held by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) at the signing ceremony of a new anti-rioting bill passed by the legislature. Judd, who last September grabbed headlines for giving members of the media a visual aid to help them tell the difference between a peaceful protest and a riot, praised the governor and Senate President Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, and other lawmakers for prioritizing the safety of Floridians.

"Florida is a unique place and a special place. It's where we work, where we live, but it's also where the world comes to play, to bring their children — and their children have a right to be safe," the sheriff said.

He contrasted DeSantis' leadership in Florida with the governments of Seattle, Portland, and Minneapolis, where Black Lives Matter protests have devolved into violent riots that have set those communities aflame.

"That's no way to treat the community. That's no way to treat those that put their entire life into building their business," Judd said.

"We saw folks' businesses around this nation who literally worked their entire life and had every penny in their life savings involved. We're going to proactive and we're going to make sure people are safe," he continued, holding up a picture of a peaceful protest next to a picture of a riot, as seen in video reported by WTVT-TV.

"Pay attention, we got a new law and we're going to use it if you make us. We're going to protect the people."

The new law, "Combating Public Disorder," would criminalize "mob intimidation" — such as the practices of protesters accosting people at restaurants — and would increase penalties for rioting, looting, and related violence. The bill would also create legal protections for fleeing motorists who cause injury or death to rioters while attempting to drive away to safety.

"We saw unprecedented rioting throughout 2020," DeSantis said during the news conference. "We wanted to make sure we protect the people of our great state, businesses and property against any type of mob activity. We're here today being prepared to sign that bill into law."

Rioting erupted in cities across the nation last year when 36-year-old George Floyd died in police custody. The officer, Derek Chauvin, had knelt on Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes and is now on trial for Floyd's murder.

DeSantis proposed the anti-rioting law in response to the nationwide wave of violence last year, warning would-be rioters that there will be consequences for violence in Florida.

"If you are involved in a violent or disorderly assembly and you harm somebody, if you throw a brick and hit a police officer, you're going to jail, and there's going to be a mandatory minimum jail sentence of at least six months for anyone who strikes a police officer, either with a weapon or projectile. And we're also not going to simply let people back out on the street," DeSantis previously said. "So if you are in custody for one of these offenses relating to a violent or disorderly assembly, you're not getting bail before your first appearance.

"If you are from another state and you come to participate in one of these violent or disorderly assemblies, you're going to have extra penalties imposed on you as well," he added.

The new law also penalizes the destruction of "memorials" by creating a felony crime for defacing, damaging, destroying, or pulling down memorials or historic property if the damage is more than $200. Persons convicted of crimes under this law would be responsible for restoration or replacement of the property.

Judd, speaking after DeSantis Monday, used another visual aid to show the media why people come to Florida, holding up a picture of families vacationing at the beach and at Disney World.

"This is what we enjoy in Florida. This is the Florida we know and love. This is what our governor, our speaker, our president — this what all these law enforcement officers, and administrators, and sheriffs and police chiefs and their officers do every day — they guarantee an environment where you can come here and have fun," Judd said.

He continued:

This is the Florida we know and love. We're a special place. And there are millions and millions of people who like to come here. And quite frankly, we like to have them here. So, we only want to share one thing as you move in hundreds a day:

Welcome to Florida! But don't register to vote and vote the stupid way you did up north, you'll get what they got!

There's a reason that this place is fun. There's a reason why we have a 49-year-low crime rate. And the same people that don't think we should have an anti-rioting bill, or a rioting bill, are the same ones that think we ought to let more people out of prison. And where they're doing that ... crime goes up. But it's not just crime that goes up, victimization goes up. The people of those states are hurt and killed and their livelihoods change and their children are changed.