The defense of U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry against charges that he lied to federal investigators began in earnest on Wednesday, with his defense claiming that FBI agents intended to charge the nine-term congressman before even interviewing him.
The Nebraska Examiner’s Paul Hammel reports that from the start, defenders of the Nebraska Republican have maintained that he was “set up” by agents, who had a cooperating witness “feed” information to Fortenberry that he’d been given $30,000 in illegal, “conduit” political contributions at a Los Angeles fundraiser in 2016 that “probably” originated from a foreigner, a billionaire living in Paris.
Political contributions to U.S. politicians through conduits or “straw men” are illegal, as are donations from foreigners. To read the full story click here