U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown was served a federal subpoena Monday evening during dinner at a Northside barbecue restaurant, but little is known publicly about the reasons behind it.
Brown’s only response Wednesday afternoon brought up redistricting — an issue she’s been fighting for months.
She said the “unfounded and politically motivated actions” from the subpoena wouldn’t distract her on the job.
“The 5th congressional district is under attack through the redistricting process, and now it is under siege by other political forces,” the longtime Congress member said in the statement.
She went on to say it “is not surprising” that when a redistricting process happens, some “tangential investigation comes up.”
A longtime supporter and often-hired hand, Von Alexander, also was served a subpoena this week.
Brown has been embroiled in the redistricting issue after the Florida Supreme Court last year ruled her district had to be redrawn.
The snakelike district had run north to south, curving from Jacksonville to Orlando.
A new map running east to west from Jacksonville to Tallahassee has been upheld, but Brown has filed a challenge in federal court. Her complaint alleges the new maps deprive black voters the opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.
On Wednesday, an order was issued for a Jan. 12 telephone hearing about Brown’s motion for a preliminary injunction on the redistricting issue.
Although her statement Wednesday mentions redistricting, it still isn’t known what the subpoena pertained to.
A follow-up call to Brown spokesman David Simon was not returned Wednesday afternoon.
Inquiries made to the Jacksonville office of the FBI were referred to the Department of Justice, with a spokesman there saying the department neither confirms nor denies whether a matter is under investigation or whether a subpoena has been issued.
The congresswoman wasn’t the only one served a federal subpoena this week.
Von Alexander, a publicist who has extensively worked with Brown over the years was served Tuesday, she said Wednesday morning.
“I’m still trying to figure it out myself,” said Alexander, who runs The Alexander Agency.
She wouldn’t comment on the nature of the subpoena and instead said her attorney, New York-based David Blythewood, was reviewing it.
Blythewood said Wednesday he had not yet been retained by Alexander.
A follow-up call to Alexander went unreturned.
Alexander serves as treasurer of Florida Health Solutions, a political action committee and group pushing for a referendum to expand Medicaid coverage.
Brown’s been extremely vocal about the issue after Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature have continued to deny expansion.
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