Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry resigns after conviction for lying to FBI

Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska resigned from workplace Thursday night time after he was discovered responsible of creating false statements to the Division of Justice throughout an investigation into overseas cash given to his marketing campaign fund.

Fortenberry beforehand issued a quick, written assertion asserting his retirement within the face of authorized challenges.

“It has been my honor to serve with you in the US Home of Representatives,” Fortenberry wrote within the letter. “As a result of difficulties of my present circumstances, I can now not successfully serve.”

NEBRASKA CONGRESSMAN FOUND GUILTY OF LYING TO FBI ABOUT FOREIGN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION

“U.S. Consultant Jeff Fortenberry, who represents Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, was discovered responsible by a federal jury this night of concealing info and making false statements to federal authorities who have been investigating unlawful contributions made by a overseas nationwide to the congressman’s 2016 re-election marketing campaign,” the Division of Justice introduced in a launch final week.

Fortenberry’s false statements arose from his testimony given to federal authorities investigating monetary impropriety in his marketing campaign. 

Dr. Elias Ayoub, who hosted Fortenberry in Los Angeles in 2016, confessed in a recorded 2018 name with the congressman that he distributed $30,000 to pals and family members who attended the fundraiser so they might write checks to Fortenberry’s marketing campaign. In the course of the name in 2018, Ayoub had been cooperating with the FBI. 

Ayoub stated the cash most likely got here from overseas nationwide Gilbert Chagoury, who admitted in 2019 to funneling $180,000 in unlawful marketing campaign contributions to 4 campaigns and agreed to pay a $1.8 million high-quality.

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., arrives on the federal courthouse in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. 
(AP Picture/Jae C. Hong)

In 2019, Fortenberry, unaware that the decision was being recorded, instructed the FBI that he didn’t obtain any overseas donations or so-called conduit contributions, the place the cash was distributed to straw donors.

“Fortenberry, 61, of Lincoln, Nebraska, who has served in Congress since 2005, was discovered responsible of 1 rely of scheming to falsify and conceal materials info and two counts of creating false statements to federal investigators,” the DOJ continued.

Every offense carries a most sentence of 5 years.

In an e-mail, Fortenberry thanked his constituents for “entrusting me with the good duty of governing our nation.”

“After I first ran for Congress, I stated that I might deal with our nationwide safety, financial safety, and household safety,” he wrote. “It’s my sincerest hope that I’ve made a contribution to the betterment of America, and the wellbeing of our nice state of Nebraska. As a result of difficulties of my present circumstances, I can now not serve you successfully.”

Fortenberry’s announcement adopted concerted stress from political leaders in Nebraska and Washington for him to step down. Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy on Friday urged Fortenberry to resign.

Fox Information’s Kyle Morris contributed to this piece.