US Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska convicted of lying to feds

LOS ANGELES — U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska was convicted Thursday of expenses that he lied to federal authorities about an unlawful $30,000 contribution to his marketing campaign from a international billionaire at a 2016 Los Angeles fundraiser.

A federal jury in California discovered the nine-term Republican responsible of 1 rely of falsifying and concealing materials details and two counts of constructing false statements. Fortenberry was charged after sitting for 2 interviews with FBI brokers who had been investigating the donor, Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent.

Fortenberry argued at trial that prosecutors knew that the congressman did not know concerning the contribution, however directed an informant to feed him the knowledge in a 10-minute name with the intention of attempting to prosecute him.

PREVIOUSLY:GOP Rep. Fortenberry pleads not responsible to mendacity about Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire’s marketing campaign donation

His attorneys mentioned FBI brokers then used false pretenses to interview Fortenberry practically a yr later and indicted him when he didn’t recall the entire particulars from the dialog.

Every rely carries a possible five-year jail sentence and fines.

The trial may all however finish the political profession of a congressman seen as a dependable conservative who coasted to simple wins however is not a well-known title outdoors of Nebraska. Felons are eligible to run for and serve in Congress, however the overwhelming majority select to resign below risk of expulsion.

Fortenberry, who’s operating for reelection, took a giant political hit when prosecutors introduced the fees, and his indictment already divided Nebraska Republicans who backed him for years.