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Jeff Fortenberry, the ex-GOP Congressman found guilty of lying to the FBI, had his conviction tossed by a California appeals court
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Trump!
Dec 27, 2023, 12:41:55 AM12/27/23
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A California appeals court reversed the 2022 conviction of Jeff
Fortenberry, the former Nebraska congressman found guilty of lying to the
FBI over knowledge of illegal contributions made to his campaign.
The US Appeals Court for the Ninth Circuit found that Fortenberry should
have been tried on the crimes in Washington D.C. or Nebraska — not in Los
Angeles, where his trial was held.
Fortenberry was charged with lying to investigators and concealing
material facts after he denied knowing he'd received $30,000 in donations
from Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese Nigerian billionaire, at a 2016 campaign
fundraiser. That fundraiser was held in LA.
Fortenberry resigned from his seat in March 2022 following his conviction
and said he planned to appeal as a private citizen.
Trump spoke out against the conviction, saying Fortenberry "possibly
didn't even know anything about" the donation.
During the investigation into Fortenberry's actions, federal agents based
out of LA interviewed him in Lincoln, Nebraska, and his lawyer's office in
DC, according to the appeals ruling.
In the end, Fortenberry was not charged with campaign finance allegations
— in connection to the 2016 fundraising event in LA — but rather lying
during that investigation.
The panel ruled that because of that, his case was tried in the wrong
venue.
"The ruling does not preclude a retrial on the charges that then-
Congressman Fortenberry made multiple false statements to federal agents,"
Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office in LA told Business
Insider in a statement. "We are evaluating potential next steps before
deciding how best to move forward."
In a statement to BI, Fortenberry said he and his wife are happy with the
court's ruling.
"We are gratified by the Ninth Circuit's decision," Fortenberry said.
"Celeste and I would like to thank everyone who has stood by us and
supported us with their kindness and friendship."
https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-nebraska-congressman-had-his-
conviction-for-lying-to-fbi-reversed-2023-12
Fortenberry, the former Nebraska congressman found guilty of lying to the
FBI over knowledge of illegal contributions made to his campaign.
The US Appeals Court for the Ninth Circuit found that Fortenberry should
have been tried on the crimes in Washington D.C. or Nebraska — not in Los
Angeles, where his trial was held.
Fortenberry was charged with lying to investigators and concealing
material facts after he denied knowing he'd received $30,000 in donations
from Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese Nigerian billionaire, at a 2016 campaign
fundraiser. That fundraiser was held in LA.
Fortenberry resigned from his seat in March 2022 following his conviction
and said he planned to appeal as a private citizen.
Trump spoke out against the conviction, saying Fortenberry "possibly
didn't even know anything about" the donation.
During the investigation into Fortenberry's actions, federal agents based
out of LA interviewed him in Lincoln, Nebraska, and his lawyer's office in
DC, according to the appeals ruling.
In the end, Fortenberry was not charged with campaign finance allegations
— in connection to the 2016 fundraising event in LA — but rather lying
during that investigation.
The panel ruled that because of that, his case was tried in the wrong
venue.
"The ruling does not preclude a retrial on the charges that then-
Congressman Fortenberry made multiple false statements to federal agents,"
Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office in LA told Business
Insider in a statement. "We are evaluating potential next steps before
deciding how best to move forward."
In a statement to BI, Fortenberry said he and his wife are happy with the
court's ruling.
"We are gratified by the Ninth Circuit's decision," Fortenberry said.
"Celeste and I would like to thank everyone who has stood by us and
supported us with their kindness and friendship."
https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-nebraska-congressman-had-his-
conviction-for-lying-to-fbi-reversed-2023-12
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