Photo: Jim Watson / Getty Images
Nebraska Republican Congressman, Jeff Fortenberry, was charged with lying to the FBI about an illicit contribution from 30,000 dollars to his campaign by a foreign billionaire at a fundraiser in Los Angeles, in the year 2016.
After analyzing the facts, The Los Angeles federal jury found Fortenberry guilty of withholding information and two counts of making false statements to federal authorities.
The congressman was accused of denying to the FBI that he had received illegal funds from a foreigner, identified as Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire.
The Republican said outside the court that the process was unfair and that he would appeal immediately, and that more time with his familya, without clarifying if he would suspend his campaign for re-election.
For his part, the judge set the sentence for the day 28 of June. Each charge levied on the Fortenberry represents a possible five-year prison sentence, in addition to fines.
The congressman was not called to appear, but his lawyers argued at trial that they were unaware of the contribution and that the authorities ordered a person to give him information in a call to set him up.
According to the defense, Fortenberry’s fault was to voluntarily meet with the agents and prosecutors to cooperate in the investigation, and have memory problems.
Prosecutors argued that the Republican lied about what he knew of an illegal donation that received during an interview at his home in March 2019 and a follow-up meeting four months later in Washington.
Mack Jenkins, Assistant United States Attorney, said that there was extensive evidence on record in the case and the jury’s swift verdict vindicated the efforts of the prosecution.
“Our opinion is that it was a simple story”, said Jenkins. “A politician caught in the cycle of money and power. And as I said, he lost his way”.
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