Corrine Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Corrine Brown
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| Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – July 8, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Michaud |
| Succeeded by | Mark Takano (acting) |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Al Lawson |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1993–2013) 5th district (2013–2017) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 17th district |
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| In office November 8, 1982 – November 3, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 11, 1946 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Education | Florida A&M University (BS, MA) University of Florida (EdS) |
Corrine Brown (born November 11, 1946) is an American former politician. She served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Florida from 1993 to 2017. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
After changes to her district and facing legal issues, Brown was not re-elected in the 2016 Democratic primary. She was defeated by Al Lawson, who then won her former seat. In 2017, she received a sentence related to fraud charges. However, her conviction was later overturned. In 2022, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a new trial. She was sentenced to the time she had already spent in custody.
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Early Life and Education
Corrine Brown was born in Jacksonville, Florida. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Florida A&M University in 1969. She continued her studies at Florida A&M University, earning a master's degree in 1971. In 1974, she received an educational specialist degree from the University of Florida.
Political Career in Florida
Brown first ran for the Florida House of Representatives in 1980 but was not elected. Two years later, in 1982, she was elected from a new House district. She served in the Florida House for ten years, representing her community at the state level.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Corrine Brown became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1993. She represented Florida for many years.
Early Elections (1992–2008)
After the 1990 census, Florida created a new 3rd congressional district. This district was designed to include a majority of African-American voters. It was shaped like a horseshoe, connecting African-American neighborhoods in cities like Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Orlando. This new district aimed to send Florida's first African-American to Congress since the Reconstruction era. Corrine Brown decided to run for this seat.
In the 1992 Democratic primary, Brown faced several candidates. She won the primary and a runoff election. She then won the general election in November 1992, becoming a U.S. Representative.
In 1995, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the 3rd district's shape was unconstitutional. This meant the district had to be redrawn. Even though the district changed and had fewer Black residents, Brown was re-elected in 1996.
Later Elections (2010–2016)
In 2009, Brown considered running for a U.S. Senate seat but later decided to seek re-election to the House of Representatives in 2010. She won that election.
After new district maps were drawn in 2012, Brown's district was renumbered as the 5th district. Its basic shape remained similar, stretching from Jacksonville to Orlando. This district was seen as one of the most unusually shaped districts in the country.
In 2015, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the congressional district map was unfair. The court ordered the 5th district to be redrawn significantly. Brown challenged this new map in federal court, but the court ruled against her in April 2016. The new 5th district became much more compact. It changed to run east-west along the Georgia border, from downtown Jacksonville to Tallahassee.
Brown ran for re-election in 2016, even though her district was now very different. She was defeated in the Democratic primary by former state senator Al Lawson of Tallahassee. Lawson then won the general election in November.
2022 Election Attempt
In June 2022, Corrine Brown announced she would seek the Democratic nomination for a House seat. This seat was open because Val Demings chose to run for the Senate. Brown finished fourth in the primary election.
Work in Congress
During her time in Congress, Corrine Brown voted on many important laws. For example, in 2006, she voted against the Child Custody Protection Act and the Military Commissions Act. She voted for the SAFE Port Act. In 2008, she voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
She was also a member of important committees. These included the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. On the Transportation Committee, she was the Ranking Member (a top leader) of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Legal Matters
In July 2016, Corrine Brown and her chief of staff faced federal charges related to a non-profit charity called One Door for Education Foundation. Prosecutors claimed the charity was supposed to provide scholarships but was used for personal benefit.
On May 11, 2017, Brown was found guilty on several charges. On December 4, 2017, she was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay money back. She began her sentence in January 2018.
Conviction Overturned
On May 6, 2021, a higher court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, overturned Brown's conviction. The court ruled that a juror had been improperly removed during her trial. This decision meant that her case would go back to a lower court for a new trial.
Brown was released from prison on April 22, 2020, due to health concerns. Her lawyer argued that her age and health conditions put her at higher risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Plea Agreement
On May 17, 2022, Corrine Brown chose to avoid a new trial. She pleaded guilty to a charge of "interference with the due administration of Internal Revenue Service laws." She was sentenced to the time she had already served in custody. She was also ordered to pay back money to the Internal Revenue Service.
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Corrine Brown
