An FBI agent testified Tuesday he suspected that U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry lied about three key issues during an interview at the congressman’s Lincoln home in 2019.
Special Agent James O’Leary testified in federal court as jurors were shown video clips from a 45-minute interview that he and another FBI agent conducted with Fortenberry on March 23, 2019.
Paul Hammel reports in the Nebraska Examiner that in that interview, Fortenberry initially denied knowing Dr. Elias Ayoub, who had hosted a Los Angeles fundraiser in 2016 in which the congressman was given $30,000 in illegal, “conduit” political contributions that originated from a foreigner.
Prosecutors have charged Fortenberry, a 61-year-old Republican, with lying to agents in interviews in March and July of 2019, and attempting to conceal the L.A. donations.
Paul Hammel’s report is available here