Following the reversal of his conviction by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, former Nebraska Republican Jeff Fortenberry is now facing charges in Washington, D.C. for allegedly falsifying and concealing material facts, as well as making false statements. The charges stem from a foreign billionaire’s illegal $30,000 contribution to Fortenberry’s campaign. A grand jury indicted Fortenberry on Wednesday on two counts related to these alleged misrepresentations. Chad Kolton, a spokesman for Fortenberry, decried the renewed prosecution, asserting that the case should not have been brought initially and should not be pursued further in light of the 9th Circuit’s ruling in his favor. Despite the setback, Fortenberry maintains his innocence, with Kolton characterizing the case as an example of “overzealous prosecution.” Fortenberry’s trial will mark the first time a sitting member of Congress has faced trial since Rep. Jim Traficant, D-Ohio, was convicted of bribery and other felony charges in 2002.
Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry Faces Retrial on Charges of Misrepresenting Illegal Campaign Funds
