Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry convicted for lying to FBI about foreign campaign contribution

[L. Coyote]

Source: ketv.com

A federal jury in Los Angeles has convicted Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of three felony counts for lying to the FBI about a 2016 foreign campaign contribution.

Fortenberry was found guilty of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts, along with two counts of making false statements to federal investigators.

Jurors deliberated for about two hours before the decision was announced.

Prosecutors said Fortenberry concealed information from FBI investigators as they questioned the Congressman about illegal foreign contributions to Fortenberry's 2016 re-election campaign.

In closing arguments, US Attorney Susan Har said Fortenberry “… chose to conceal the truth, he chose to lie to federal investigators when they came to ask question … believing his status and privilege as a congressman would shield him from his choices.”

Read more: https://www.ketv.com/article/nebraska-congressman-jeff-fortenberry-convicted-lying-fbi-foreign-campaign-contribution/39532704#

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[Martin68]

1. We need to convict every crooked republican.

[MyOwnPeace]

8. I have no problem convicting........

every crooked POLITICIAN!

However, it seems that at this point in our history the RepubliQans have a corner on the "integrity" thing.........

Hmmmmmm............. LEADERSHIP problem, perhaps?

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Today's latest member of the Republican Organized Crime Party.

How is this not RICO....did he not solicit funds across State borders?

[Cha]

3. Rts TY & FBI!

💙💛

[Stuart G]

4. Thanks for posting K and R.Isn't the first liar to the FBI caught, and won't be the last icaught.

...And it is against the law to lie to the FBI.

..So many examples. The FBI is expert on liars If you don't believe, just wait till the next liar's caught..

...We never know what the future brings...

[Zorro]

5. Probably enhances his chances for reelection in Nebraska

[progressoid]

7. Yup. n/t

[NJCher]

29. in Nebraska they think

criminal justice reform means building more prisons.

In NY it means legislation like the Clean Slate bill.

But maybe Nebraska does need more prisons--for Fortenberry and his ilk.

Hey Nebraska! Stop electing criminals and you won't have to build more prisons.

[LuckyLib]

6. Was it worth it? A puny $30,000?

It might be the tip of the iceberg.

[MyOwnPeace]

9. "Jurors deliberated for about two hours before the decision was announced........"

Two hours?

Most juries take longer than that to decide what to order for lunch!

This must have been so "cut 'n dried" that we should get whoever lead the prosecuting team to get on a plane and go to help the Manhattan DA's office on the tRump case!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Lock this idiot up

Link to tweet

[KPN]

11. No problem, the GQP has another grifter to fill in behind him. Nebraskans must not care?

[quakerboy]

12. So what?

Not like he even has to give up his seat.

Im most curious why exactly he gets a couple months freedom before sentencing?

[NJCher]

30. SOP

in Nebraska and probably other states, too.

In that intervening time, they work up a complete profile which includes all the things the judge needs to consider in handing down a sentence.

I've seen a few of them and they are a complete history of the case, with all the motions, etc. plus any psychological evaluations given to the person being sentenced.

It takes a lot of time to put all this documentation together.

[Bengus81]

31. But but....gosh won't Repukes DEMAND he resign like Dems did with Franken??

Right............

[quakerboy]

32. Integrity is for one side only in this country

[KS Toronado]

13. Did the money come from Russia via Moscow Mitch???

[BumRushDaShow]

17. I posted in earlier threads on this one but here is the chain

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2021/04/straw-donor-scheme-foreign-billionaire/

So 2 of the 3 current or former GOP Congressmen from Nebraska have been tied to this scheme (the "former" being Lee Terry who was defeated in the 2014 election).

It's time to take Issa down for once and for all.

ETA - here is one of the OPs where I posted that and that targeted Issa - https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216036798

[KS Toronado]

20. Thanks, that's very informative & eye opening

[BumRushDaShow]

21. You are welcome!

I waiting for the Issa take-down. He managed to slime himself back into office through a fluke of redistricting and is sitting there quietly, although has started chomping at the bit with Ukraine and the Hunter Biden nonsense.

I'll never forget this bullshit (which is what Durbin should have done to Cruz this week) -

[KS Toronado]

24. WOW! what an asshole Issa is

Yes he needs to be out of Congress.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. He decided not to run again in 2018 (and his old seat flipped to a Democrat)

But in 2020, he ran in a different district (one that had been Duncan Hunter's, another corrupt GOP Congressman), and squeaked past the Democrat to return to stink up the halls of Congress again.

[pecosbob]

14. We need a law that bars those convicted of campaign finance violations from running for office

[Achilleaze]

15. the "little" lies took down a Repub supporter of...

the big lie.

how fitting.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Here is a "next steps" missive from AP back when he was indicted in October

What could happen next with indicted US Rep. Fortenberry

By GRANT SCHULTEOctober 21, 2021


(snip)

WHAT HAPPENS IF HE’S CONVICTED?

Fortenberry could remain in Congress if he’s convicted of a felony, but his pension could be cut, creating a potential incentive to strike a deal with prosecutors. Under federal law, members of Congress who are convicted of certain felonies can lose “creditable service,” which is used to calculate how much they’ll receive in retirement benefits upon leaving office, according to the Congressional Research Service. The law applies to federal convictions tied to corruption, election crimes or misconduct in office.

Fortenberry could also lose his committee assignments if he’s convicted, and he could be subject to internal legislative discipline, including a formal reprimand or censure. He has already temporarily stepped down from his committees, as required by GOP Conference rules for any member indicted for a felony.

WHAT HAPPENS IF HE RESIGNS?

If Fortenberry resigns from office this year or in the first seven months of 2022, state law would require the governor to schedule a special election within 90 days. If he resigns between Aug. 1, 2022, and the Nov. 8, 2022, general election, the special election would coincide with that election.

In either case, the new GOP nominee would be chosen by members of the Nebraska Republican Party’s State Central Committee. The Democratic nominee would be either the candidate who won the party’s primary, if a primary was held, or someone who is chosen by that party’s executive committee.

(snip)

https://apnews.com/article/elections-campaigns-nebraska-election-2020-indictments-ff669eb5dd84a82d3ab97d6634b2bc18

So I am going to assume that a convicted GOP felon will stay in Congress anyway because IOKIYAR.

[oldsoftie]

18. What country was it?

[L. Coyote]

19. I linked the articles so you could find that information. Politico:

"Prosecutors said Fortenberry lied to investigators when he denied knowing that Gilbert Chagoury, a wealthy Lebanese-Nigerian businessman who lives in France, donated about $30,000 to his campaign through intermediaries at a 2016 fundraiser in Glendale, Calif."

[oldsoftie]

26. Thank you. Links on my phone always load with TONS of ads.

I was really expecting Russia!

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Here is info on the guy funneling money to the straw donors

The donor is a Lebanese-Nigerian (currently living in France).

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2021/04/straw-donor-scheme-foreign-billionaire/

DOJ case (cooperation agreement) - https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/lebanese-nigerian-billionaire-and-two-associates-resolve-federal-probe-alleged

Who received the funds at issue related to this story-

Ray LaHood admitted hiding $50K loan from foreign billionaire


By JOSH GERSTEIN
03/31/2021 11:36 PM EDT
Updated: 04/01/2021 12:17 AM EDT


(snip)

While Chagoury became the focus of media attention and GOP attacks because he donated between $1 million and $5 million to the Clinton Foundation and had contacts with Hillary Clinton’s inner circle at the State Department, all the $180,000 prosecutors contend Chagoury routed into U.S. presidential campaigns appears to have gone to Republican candidates.

The campaigns and candidates are not identified by name in the documents released Tuesday, but a POLITICO analysis shows that the individual donations match with $100,000 in gifts to a Mitt Romney presidential campaign fund in 2012, $10,000 to the 2014 campaign of former Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.), $30,000 to the 2014 campaign of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), and $30,200 to the 2016 campaign of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.).

(snip)

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/31/lahood-loan-foreign-billionaire-478813

[oldsoftie]

27. Thank you!

[BumRushDaShow]

28. You're welcome!

[Justice matters.]

23. So they nailed another small repug fish...

But the big octopus still swims free as a bird?

Note: No offense to real fishes, octopuses and birds as they never commit crimes.