Jeff Fortenberry, Former Representative, Accused of Providing False Information to Federal Authorities

Former Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska is back in the spotlight as he faces new charges of lying to federal authorities during a campaign finance investigation. The grand jury in Washington indicted the Republican politician on two counts of lying to the F.B.I., reigniting a case that had been overturned by an appeals court.

Mr. Fortenberry’s troubles began in 2022 when he was convicted, only to have that decision reversed due to a technicality regarding the venue of his trial. However, the recent indictment alleges that he lied about donations he received from Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire involved in an illegal campaign donation scheme.

Despite facing political pressure and ultimately resigning in March 2022 after his initial conviction, Mr. Fortenberry now finds himself back in legal trouble. His spokesman, Chad Kolton, has vehemently denied the new charges, claiming that the Justice Department is unfairly targeting him.

The case has drawn attention to the issue of foreign donations to American political campaigns, as Mr. Chagoury’s contribution to Mr. Fortenberry’s re-election campaign in 2016 was allegedly made through improper channels. The indictment states that Mr. Fortenberry failed to amend his campaign finance report or return the donation after being informed of its origins.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the public will be watching closely to see how this latest chapter in Mr. Fortenberry’s political career plays out.