The former Republican congressman, Jeff Fortenberry, has been charged with lying to federal authorities about receiving an illegal campaign contribution from a foreign billionaire. The case was initially derailed by an appellate court but has been revived with a grand jury indictment in Washington, D.C. Fortenberry’s spokesperson, Chad Kolton, criticized the prosecution as overzealous and vindictive, emphasizing that the case should not have been brought in the first place.
Fortenberry announced his resignation from office after his conviction, which came after an FBI investigation into illegal campaign contributions from Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury. Chagoury made a $30,000 contribution to Fortenberry through middlemen at a fundraiser in Los Angeles in 2016, violating laws that prohibit foreign nationals from directly contributing to candidates for federal office in the U.S. Chagoury ultimately agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine in connection to the illegal contributions.
The charges against Fortenberry stem from his denial to the FBI about being aware of the illicit funds from Chagoury. An individual who cooperated with the FBI investigation informed Fortenberry about the illegal contributions multiple times, according to the indictment. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled that Fortenberry should not have been tried in Los Angeles, as the statements in question were made in Nebraska and Washington, D.C. The retrial in Washington highlights the prosecutors’ persistence in pursuing the case against Fortenberry.
Fortenberry’s trial marked the first time a sitting member of Congress had been tried since 2002 when former Rep. Jim Traficant was convicted of bribery and other felony charges. The case against Fortenberry renews attention on the issue of foreign influences in U.S. elections, particularly in regard to illegal campaign contributions. The outcome of this case could have implications for future prosecutions of politicians who receive illicit funds from foreign sources.
Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the case, Fortenberry’s legal team remains firm in their defense of the former congressman. They continue to maintain that the prosecution has been unjust and driven by malicious intent to harm Fortenberry’s reputation and livelihood. The upcoming trial in Washington will likely be closely watched and scrutinized by both the political establishment and the public, as it delves into the complex and sensitive issue of foreign interference in U.S. elections.
