Ex-Rep. Jeff Fortenberry dodges prison time, instead gets two years probation
Juliegrace Brufke
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Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry managed to skirt jail time after being convicted on three felony counts of lying to the FBI about 2016 foreign campaign contributions.
While prosecutors sought a six-month prison sentence, federal District Court Judge Stanley Blumenfeld sentenced the Nebraska Republican to two years of probation, a $25,000 fine, and 320 hours of community service. On Tuesday, the judge cited the 61-year-old Fortenberry’s “exceptional character” in issuing the decision.
During his trial, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) both testified in his defense.
NEBRASKA GOP REP. JEFF FORTENBERRY WAS CONVICTED OF LYING TO THE FBI ABOUT FOREIGN CAMPAIGN DONATION
Fortenberry, who was first elected to the House in 2004, pleaded not guilty to “one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators” during an FBI investigation into Lebanese Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury’s $180,000 in illegal campaign contributions between 2012 and 2016 after being indicted in October. He was found guilty in March and resigned from his House seat shortly after.
It is illegal for foreigners to donate to U.S. politicians’ campaigns.
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The news of his sentencing comes on the same day as the special election to fill his congressional seat, with state Sens. Michael Flood (R) and Patty Pansing Brooks (D) facing off to be his successor. The seat is expected to remain in Republican hands, with Cook Political Report rating it as an R+11 district.
Fortenberry said he plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that prosecutors should never have brought the case, the Associated Press reports.
