An appellate court on Tuesday overturned the 2022 federal conviction of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry from Nebraska, ruling that he should not have been tried in Los Angeles.
Fortenberry had been convicted in March 2022 on charges of lying to federal authorities about a $30,000 illegal campaign contribution from a foreign billionaire during a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles.
Appellate Court Overturns Fortenberry’s Conviction
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit determined that the trial venue in Los Angeles was inappropriate, emphasizing that Fortenberry made false statements during interviews with federal agents at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, and in his lawyer’s office in Washington. The court’s decision raises questions about the trial’s jurisdiction, leading to the reversal of the conviction.
The former nine-term Republican congressman resigned from his seat shortly after the conviction, facing pressure from congressional leaders and Nebraska’s GOP governor. The federal jury in Los Angeles had found him guilty of concealing information and two counts of making false statements to authorities.
Following the appellate court’s decision, Fortenberry and his wife, Celeste Fortenberry, expressed their gratitude.
While the ruling represents a significant development for Fortenberry, the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles noted that the decision does not necessarily prevent future proceedings against him.
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Nebraska in Limbo: Fortenberry’s Legal Fate Leaves Prosecutor’s Mum
The potential impact on federal prosecutors in Washington and Nebraska remains uncertain, with spokespeople declining to comment on matters where charges have not been filed.
Fortenberry’s charges stemmed from his denial to the FBI about awareness of receiving illicit funds from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent.
Prosecutors presented recorded phone conversations during the trial, wherein Fortenberry was warned about the contributions from Chagoury, which were funneled through strawmen at the 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles.
The case originated from an FBI investigation into $180,000 in illegal campaign contributions to four campaigns from Chagoury, who lived in Paris at the time. Chagoury admitted to the crime in 2019 and agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine. Fortenberry’s trial was notable as the first of a sitting congressman since Rep. Jim Traficant, D-Ohio, was convicted in 2002.
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