Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., was convicted Thursday of lying to federal authorities about an illegal campaign contribution in 2016 from a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire.
A federal jury in Los Angeles discovered the nine-term lawmaker responsible of one rely of scheming to falsify and conceal materials details and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators. Each rely carries a most penalty of 5 years in jail, in addition to fines.
He advised reporters outdoors the courthouse that he would enchantment.
Fortenberry, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, was charged in October with lying to the FBI about a $30,000 contribution to his 2016 re-election campaign from Gilbert Chagoury of Nigeria. Foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing to federal candidates in U.S. elections.
Prosecutors stated Chagoury used “straw donors” to make a contribution equaling $30,000 to Fortenberry’s re-election campaign throughout a Los Angeles fundraiser in 2016.
Chagoury entered right into a deferred prosecution settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2019 and got here clear about offering roughly $180,000 that was used to make illegal contributions to 4 political candidates in U.S. elections.
During Fortenberry’s 7-day trial, prosecutors efficiently argued that the lawmaker lied to investigators on two events when requested what he knew about the illegal donation throughout interviews.
Fortenberry, 61, additionally failed to file an amended report with the Federal Election Commission.
“After learning of illegal contributions to his campaign, the congressman repeatedly chose to conceal the violations of federal law to protect his job, his reputation and his close associates,” U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison stated in a press release Thursday. “The lies in this case threatened the integrity of the American electoral system and were designed to prevent investigators from learning the true source of campaign funds.”
The jury deliberated for about two hours earlier than returning the responsible verdicts.
Fortenberry falsely advised investigators he was not conscious that one of Chagoury’s ties — Toufic Joseph Baaklini — was concerned in illegal campaign contributions when the lawmaker spoke with investigators in March 2019, after studying of the illicit contribution, prosecutors stated. They additionally stated Fortenberry claimed that donors on the 2016 fundraiser had been all publicly disclosed and that he was not conscious of any contributions from a international nationwide.
During a second interview two months later, Fortenberry denied consciousness of any illicit donation made throughout the 2016 fundraiser, or that he had been advised Baaklini supplied $30,000 in money on the fundraiser, prosecutors stated.
A decide set Fortenberry’s sentencing for June 28.
It is unclear whether or not whether or not Fortenberry will keep in Congress, or what repercussions he may face if he doesn’t step down.
NBC News has reached out to Fortenberry’s workplace for remark.
Fortenberry is on the poll for the GOP major in May and faces 5 challengers, together with state Sen. Mike Flood, who’s seen because the strongest contender. Flood has cited Fortenberry’s authorized woes in his congressional bid.
Fortenberry was first elected to Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District in 2004 and has usually cruised to re-election within the reliably purple state. In 2020, he defeated his Democratic opponent by successful 59 % of the vote.
Associated Press contributed.