Nebraska congressman Jeff Fortenberry resigns after felony conviction of lying to FBI agents
A Nebraska congressman resigned Saturday, two days after a jury convicted him of lying to federal investigators.
“It has been my honor to serve with you in the United States House of Representatives,” Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican, wrote in his resignation letter to other representatives.
“Due to the difficulties of my current circumstances, I can no longer effectively serve,” Fortenberry said.
Both Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had said Fortenberry should resign. His resignation will take effect March 31.
“I think he had his day in court. I think if he wants to appeal, he can go do that as a private citizen,” McCarthy said on Friday. “But I think when someone’s convicted, it’s time to resign.”
Fortenberry said he plans to appeal.
Fortenberry, who was first elected in 2004, was convicted by a Los Angeles federal jury of lying to FBI agents probing a 2016 donation to his campaign by Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury.
In 2018, a Fortenberry donor turned FBI informant called the congressman to tell him the $30,000 in campaign cash originated with Chagoury, and was donated to his campaign by middlemen. Federal law bars foreigners from making campaign donations.
But when the feds interviewed Fortenberry, he said twice that he never took any foreign money. The FBI got it all on tape, leading to Fortenberry’s conviction Thursday. The jury deliberated for less than two hours.
Fortenberry was convicted on one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. Fortenberry will be sentenced June 28.
Fortenberry said he would appeal the conviction. His defense team argued that the FBI set him up and he simply forgot a year-old phone call.
Felons are allowed to serve in Congress, but sitting representatives and senators almost always resign when they’re convicted. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts also called for Fortenberry’s resignation.
Nebraska state Sen. Mike Flood, also a Republican, is the favorite to win Fortenberry’s seat representing Nebraska’s 1st District, which includes Lincoln and some Omaha suburbs.
With News Wire Services
