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Rep. Corrine Brown's trial set to start day before Nov. election

By Jenna Bourne and Action News Jax
By Jenna Bourne and Action News Jax

A federal judge delayed Rep. Corrine Brown’s trial again on Tuesday, pushing it to begin on Nov. 7 – the day before the November election.

Brown’s third set of attorneys officially quit on Tuesday, five days after filing a motion to withdraw as counsel, citing an atmosphere of hostility and distrust.

Brown is now searching for a fourth legal team to take on her defense.

Brown and her chief of staff Ronnie Simmons face a 24-count federal indictment for mail and wire fraud, conspiracy and more.

They’re accused of using phony charity One Door for Education as a personal slush fund.

After spending an hour in a closed hearing with the judge, Brown’s former attorneys Mark NeJame and David Haas tried to soften the statements they made in their motion to withdraw.

“It’s simply a break-up. And sometimes you break up and you don’t talk again, and sometimes you break up because it’s best to remain friends,” said NeJame. “Well, initially there was [an atmosphere of distrust]. And we talked, just like in fact, people have an argument at home and then they talk it out. We talked it out.”

Action News Jax asked Brown if NeJame and Haas tried to get her to take a plea deal.

“Oh, no!” said Brown.

NeJame quickly reminded her not to talk about the case.

“Okay, well, yeah. I can’t talk about the case, legally,” said Brown.

When Action News Jax asked Brown what she wanted voters to know, she responded, “Vote for me!”

Judge James Klindt said he is “convinced the congresswoman is making a good faith effort to assemble a new defense team,” and does not believe she’s using it as a delay tactic.

William Sheppard and Elizabeth White withdrew as counsel for Brown on Aug. 9.

Tampa attorney Greg Kehoe walked Brown out of the hearing that day, after telling the court he planned to file paperwork to represent her by the end of that week.

No court documents indicate that ever happened.

On Aug. 16, Nejame and Haas filed to represent Brown. They filed to withdraw two days later.

After Tuesday’s hearing, the government filed paperwork asking a judge to look into a possible conflict of interest with Simmons’ attorney Anthony Suarez.

Prosecutors said Suarez represented a witness in the investigation.

The two sides will consider if it's proper he continue to represent Simmons.

Simmons’ original attorney Daniel Smith announced in court on Aug. 9 that he intended to withdraw as counsel.

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