Convicted ex-congresswoman could spend rest of life in prison

The Florida Democrat was raising money "for the kids."

Well, not exactly.

From News4Jax:

Former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown could spend the rest of her life in prison after being found guilty of taking money from a charity that was purported to be giving scholarships to poor students.

The former Democratic congresswoman was convicted Thursday on 18 counts in a federal corruption trial, the latest chapter in a stunning fall for a longtime Jacksonville political institution.

Brown, who was defeated for re-election last year after 24 years in the U.S. House, was found guilty on all but four counts for her part in a scheme that used sham education charity One Door for Education to finance personal expenses and events. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan could hold a sentencing hearing for Brown, 70, within 90 days.

"Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown violated the public trust, the honor of her position, and the integrity of the American system of government when she abused one of the most powerful positions in the nation for her own personal gain," Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco said in a statement issued after the ruling. "She shamefully deprived needy children of hundreds of thousands of dollars that could have helped with their education and improved their opportunities for advancement, and she lied to the IRS and the American public about secret cash deposits into her personal bank accounts."

A de facto life sentence will send the right message to other crooked politicians.