The Justice Department’s second attempt to prosecute former Nebraska U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry is coming to an end. In a court document filed Wednesday, federal prosecutors are moving to drop its criminal prosecution against Fortenberry.
Fortenberry was found guilty in 2022 of concealing illegal campaign donations made by a Nigerian billionaire, as well as lying to FBI agents about his knowledge of the contributions. The Nigerian-Lebanese billionaire Gilbert Chagoury gave Fortenberry’s re-election campaign $30,000 to further his own interests at a 2016 campaign event in Los Angeles.
Fortenberry was convicted and sentenced to two years’ probation, 320 hours of community service and a $25,000 fine. That conviction was overturned by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in late 2023, who agreed with Fortenberry’s attorneys that the case should have been tried in Nebraska or in Washington, D.C. , the two states where Fortenberry had conversations with investigators.
Prosecutors filed the motion “with prejudice,” meaning the same charges can’t be filed again. The motion awaits a signature by U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden.
(Photo: Nebraska Examiner)