Updated Friday Morning 5:30 am
The jury deliberated about 2-hours after getting the case and found Nebraska 1st District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry guilty on one count of falsifying and concealing material facts and two counts of making false statements.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 28th.
The prosecution case was tied to an illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign from a foreign billionaire at a 2016 Los Angeles fundraiser.
Paul Hammel reported in the Nebraska Examiner the most important piece of evidence was a 10-minute audio recording — done surreptitiously by the FBI — of a June 4, 2018, phone call the host of a Los Angeles fundraiser had with Fortenberry.
Fortenberry said he will appeal and that he is reviewing whether to continue his re-election efforts.
A link to Hammel’s comprehensive report is available here https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/24/u-s-rep-fortenberry-found-guilty-of-three-felonies-in-stunning-and-swift-jury-verdict/
Thursday Evening
U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has been found guilty on all three counts that he was facing in a Los Angeles court.
The nine-term congressman was facing three felony charges related to money received during the 2016 re-election campaign and ensuing FBI investigation. The jury’s deliberation Thursday lasted just a couple hours before returning the guilty verdict.
This is a developing story. Check back with KLIN News for updates.