Decision on Corrine Brown's motion for new trial, acquittal still up in the air

The fate of former Congresswoman Corrine Brown is still up in the air after the judge announced he would not make a decision on two major motions from her attorney during Monday’s hearing.

The judge did not decide how to act on the motion to acquit her on all counts or whether to grant her a new trial.

A jury found Brown guilty on 18 counts including mail fraud, wire fraud and filing false tax returns.

On Monday, her attorney James Smith argued the court made a “mistake” by dismissing one juror two days into deliberations.

“What happened in this courtroom never should have happened,” Brown told Action News Jax in an exclusive interview on Monday.

That juror told his fellow jurors that the Holy Spirit told him that Brown was innocent, and the evidence he saw during trial confirmed that.

The judge dismissed him, swapped in an alternate juror, and the jury reached their verdicts the next day.

“Clearly, a lot went on in that jury room that should not have. And I just wonder what goes on in jury rooms all over the country,” said Brown.

The government argued on Monday that the court got it right by sending that juror home.

"I have spent 34 years serving my community, the state of Florida, and this country. And I am determined that, on my tombstone, it will not say ‘felon,’” Brown said.

As the legal drama drags on, so do Brown’s mounting legal bills.

“It’s been challenging to raise [funds] the entire time. But you know, people are coming around,” Brown said.

A concert fundraiser featuring a popular gospel singer that was originally scheduled for Sunday, the day before the hearing, was postponed until next month because of "inclement weather."

Action News Jax pointed out to Brown that the weather on Sunday could hardly be called “inclement.”

“The Sunday before, it had rained and flooded around my church. So that is why I canceled it,” Brown said.

Judge Timothy Corrigan will issue written decisions on the motion to acquit and motion for a new trial, but said he did not know when that would happen.

If the judge decides not to acquit Brown or grant her a new trial, he will set a date for sentencing.

Corrine Brown coverage:

• Former Florida Rep. Corrine Brown to host fundraisers ahead of hearing for new trial
• Corrine Brown trial: Prosecution opposes Brown's motion for acquittal
• Breakdown of Corrine Brown federal charges
• Corrine Brown jury starts deliberations from scratch after juror dismissed

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