Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry is facing renewed legal troubles as he has been charged with lying to federal authorities about a foreign billionaire's illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign. This case, which dates back to 2016, has resurfaced after a federal jury convicted the Nebraska Republican in 2022. However, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Fortenberry's conviction last year, citing jurisdictional issues.
The recent indictment in the nation's capital includes charges of falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements. Fortenberry's spokesperson, Chad Kolton, has criticized the decision to retry the case, calling it an example of overzealous prosecution and a vendetta against his client.
Following his conviction, Fortenberry announced his resignation from the office he had held since 2005, under pressure from congressional leaders and Nebraska's Republican governor. The charges against Fortenberry stem from an FBI investigation into illegal campaign contributions made by Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, who had contributed $30,000 to Fortenberry's campaign through intermediaries.
Foreign nationals are prohibited from directly contributing money to candidates for federal offices in the United States, making Chagoury's actions illegal. Fortenberry allegedly denied knowledge of the illicit funds when questioned by the FBI, despite being informed by a cooperating witness about the illegal contributions.
The 9th Circuit's ruling highlighted the improper venue for Fortenberry's trial, as the charges were related to statements made in Nebraska and Washington, not Los Angeles where the trial took place. This legal saga marks the first trial for a sitting member of Congress since 2002.
