Feds investigate congresswoman's ties to organization not registered with IRS

ORLANDO, Fla. — Action News Jax's sister station WFTV is digging into the subpoena U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown received from federal prosecutors.

It appears the feds may be looking into Brown's connection with an organization, based in Virginia.

WFTV investigative reporter Daralene Jones learned One Door for Education is touted, on paper, as a non-profit, raising money for scholarships, but it’s not registered with the IRS.

The organization is also required to register with the state of Virginia to solicit donations, and the state has no record of that.

In 2013, Brown invited a host of businesses and individuals to participate in a golf tournament during a transportation conference in Ponte Vedra Beach. It was sponsored by One Door for Education.

The goal of the fundraiser was to benefit scholarships and other community non-profits.

Jones tried to interview Brown about her connection to One Door Education.

“You've got to understand, this is a serious matter, and when you pay attorneys you need to listen to what they say,” Brown said.

Sources said federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas to organizations and individuals in the Orlando area, requesting receipts, emails and other documents related to any donations provided to Brown and/or One Door for Education.

The group was first registered with the state of Virginia in 2011.

The director wrote then it was, "organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes under section 501 c3 of the IRS code.”

But One Door Education lost its status with Virginia in 2012 because it missed corporate filing requirements.

Although it was re-established in 2014, it's not registered to solicit donations and a tax ID number on its website is not valid with the IRS.

What’s unclear is what happened to the money solicited at the golf tournament hosted by One Door Education, which website shows it supports several groups in Orlando, including the Central Florida YMCA, the town of Eatonville, the Hankins Johnson Foundation and Southwest Orlando Jaycees.

Officials with One Door Education did not respond to Jones’ request for comment.

Cox Media Group