Following a trial in Los Angeles federal court, the court found Fortenberry, who represents Nebraska, guilty of fraudulently falsifying and concealing factual facts, along with two counts of making false statements to federal investigators. In a statement, Fortenberry said he would resign soon due to difficulties in his “current circumstances”. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Prosecutors had accused Fortenberry of lying to investigators during two interviews in 2019 about $ 30,000 in contributions to the 2016 campaign he received from Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury. Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from donating to federal election campaigns. Fortenberry’s lawyers said he did not intend to mislead FBI agents, but was arrested on a request for an interview and suffered from poor memory. Fortenberry, 61, has served in Congress since 2005. The three felony charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A hearing is scheduled for June 28 before U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld in Los Angeles. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Idrees Ali. Edited by: Daniel Wallis Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
