Nebraska GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry convicted of lying to FBI about foreign campaign donation

by · Washington Examiner

Nebraska GOP Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has been convicted on three felony counts of lying to the FBI about a 2016 foreign campaign contribution.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles announced its decision Thursday after deliberating for about two hours. Each of the three charges in the indictment carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, KETV reported. His sentencing is set for June 28.

U.S. Attorney Susan Har said in closing arguments that Fortenberry "chose to conceal the truth, he chose to lie to federal investigators when they came to ask question … believing his status and privilege as a congressman would shield him from his choices.”

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Fortenberry, first elected to the House in 2004, was indicted on the three counts in October 2021. He had pleaded not guilty to “one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators” during an FBI investigation into Lebanese Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury’s $180,000 in illegal campaign contributions between 2012 and 2016.

The $180,000 in illegal contributions, including $30,200 to Fortenberry in 2016, were funneled through a group of individuals from California. Fortenberry, 61, said he did not know he got contributions from California donors after an LA fundraiser by Chagoury and denies any wrongdoing.

California Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo, a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former South Carolina GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy both testified on Fortenberry's behalf Wednesday. Eshoo said he was "honest" and "brings honor to what he does," while Gowdy said there was "nothing out of whack with the amount of money" Fortenberry raised.

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Fortenberry is running for reelection to continue representing Nebraska's 1st Congressional District. He is facing a number of challengers in the May 10 Republican primary, including Nebraska state Sen. Mike Flood.