Ex-lawmaker’s requests to delay reporting to prison denied

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Florida congresswoman Corrine Brown has twice been rejected as she tries to delay her entry to prison.

The 71-year-old Democrat was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud as well as lying on her tax returns and congressional financial disclosure forms about income from a purported charity for poor students that she used as a personal slush fund.

Brown is scheduled to surrender on Jan. 29. She asked for another month of freedom, but court records show she was denied Monday by both the U.S. District Court and the Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Brown is appealing, saying it was wrong for the trial judge to dismiss a juror who claimed the “Holy Spirit” told him she’s innocent.