In a letter to Parliament, Fortenberry said he was stepping down from Congress, effective March 31. “I am honored to serve with you in the United States House of Representatives,” the letter said. “Because of the difficulties of my current situation, I can no longer serve effectively.” Fortenberry’s resignation letter opened with a poem, “Do It Anyway,” about Catholic Mother Teresa. A line from the poem says: “What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway. “ Fortenberry’s announcement followed coordinated pressure from political leaders in Nebraska and Washington to resign. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called on Fortenberry to resign on Friday. Nebraska Republican Gov. Pete Rickets said Fortenberry should “do the right thing for his constituents” and step down from his 2005 post. Fortenberry was indicted in October after authorities said he lied to FBI agents in two separate interviews about his knowledge of a $ 30,000 illegal contribution from his campaign by a foreign billionaire. Fortenberry was interviewed at his home in Lincoln and then again with his lawyers present in Washington, DC At the trial, prosecutors presented recorded telephone conversations in which Fortenberry was repeatedly warned that the contributions came from Gilbert Chagouri, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent. Donations were channeled through three barns to a fundraiser in 2016 in Los Angeles. Fortenberry’s withdrawal from qualifying declares Senator Mike Flood as a possible GOP candidate. The former Nebraska lawmaker, who has won the approval of Rickets and former Gov. Dave Heinemann, has a strong advantage in the Republican-backed 1st Congressional District. State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, a Democrat from Lincoln, is also a candidate for the seat. In a statement from his campaign, Flood thanked Fortenberry for his “many years of remarkable service” and wished him and his family all the best. “Working together, we will hold this position in the hands of Republicans,” Flood said, vowing to “continue the fight for our families, our economy and our conservative values in Congress.” Pansing Brooks said Fortenberry’s belief is an “awakening” that the area needs a change. In a statement Saturday, Pansing Brooks said: “This opens the door to a new approach to service (1st District). “I am ready and able to meet this challenge and drive with integrity.” The time of Fortenberry’s resignation is expected to trigger snap elections. Governors may not appoint one person to the seat. Under Nebraska state law, the governor must schedule snap elections within 90 days of a vacancy in Congress. Each political party may nominate a candidate to serve the remainder of the term of office of a member of Congress. Flood and Pansing Brooks will both run in the by-elections to run for office in November. The Nebraska primary election is on May 10. Because counties have already mailed ballots to members of the military serving abroad and to other absent voters, it is too late to remove Fortenberry’s name from the original ballot. Election officials said there was no time to schedule special elections to coincide with the qualifiers.
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