Representative Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neep, announced Saturday that he will resign from Congress, saying in a statement to voters, “Given the difficulties of my present circumstances, I can no longer effectively serve you.”
Fortenberry, 61, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles of conspiracy to misrepresent and conceal material facts and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as fines. He said outside court he would appeal.
In a letter to his House colleagues, Fortenberry said he will resign from Congress effective March 31.
Jane Fleming Clip, President of the Nebraska Democratic Party. chirp that a “special election will now be held” for the Fortenberry’s District 1 seat.
The government’s case against Fortenberry included a $30,000 contribution to his 2016 campaign from Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury. Foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing to federal candidates.
Prosecutors said Chagoury used “straw donors” to make contributions equal to $30,000 to Fortnberry’s re-election campaign during a Los Angeles fundraiser in 2016.
Chagoury entered into a deferred prosecution agreement in 2019 in which he spoke of making about $180,000 in illegal contributions to four candidates in the US election.
Prosecutors successfully argued in Fortenberry’s seven-day trial that he lied to investigators on two occasions when asked in interviews what he knew about the donations.
Zoe Richards Contributed.
[ad_2]
