Via TTN:
On Thursday, Nebraska Republican Congressman Jeff Fortenberry was found guilty of lying to the FBI regarding illegal campaign donations from 2016. He was convicted by a jury on one count of falsifying and concealing material facts and two counts of making false statements.
Fox News reports:
U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, 61, was charged last year after being interviewed by two FBI agents who were investigating Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury who gave Fortenberry a $30,000 campaign contribution at a Los Angeles fundraiser before the 2016 election and has donated to other campaigns.
The nine-term Republican congressman’s defense has maintained his innocence, arguing that the investigators knew he was unaware of the donation at the time but directed an informant to feed him the information in a 10-minute recorded call with the intention of trying to prosecute him. They claimed the FBI used false pretenses a year later to interview him and charge him after he couldn’t remember the recorded conversation.
Dr. Elias Ayoub, who hosted Fortenberry in Los Angeles in 2016, confessed in a recorded 2018 call with the congressman that he distributed $30,000 to friends and relatives who attended the fundraiser so they could write checks to Fortenberry’s campaign. During the call in 2018, Ayoub had been cooperating with the FBI. Ayoub said the money probably came from Chagoury, who admitted in 2019 to funneling $180,000 in illegal campaign contributions to four campaigns and agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine.
In 2019, Fortenberry told the FBI he hadn’t received any foreign donations when he didn’t realize he was being recorded.
Fortenberry “chose to conceal the truth, he chose to lie to federal investigators when they came to ask question [sic]… believing his status and privilege as a congressman would shield him from his choices,” prosecutor Susan Har said during closing arguments, according to KETV in Omaha.
Fortenberry faces up to five years in prison for each of the charges.
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has urged Fortenberry to resign from Congress.
Per The Hill:
“He had his day in court. I think if he wants to appeal, he can go do that as a private citizen,” McCarthy said in a press conference Friday from House Republicans’ annual policy retreat in Florida.
McCarthy said he texted Fortenberry on Thursday night and plans to talk to him today.
“I think when someone’s convicted, it’s time to resign,” McCarthy said.
wpDiscuz
Hell Hillary lied too she is not in prison, so did Eric Holder he is not in prison and many more did too
This smells like another General Flynn set up. Dr. Ayoub gave money to friends and relatives and they chose to donate it at the fundraiser in 2016. So at the time Fortenberry didn’t know where the money came from other than the people donating it. Then 2 years later the Dr. mentions it PROBABLY came from the Nigerian in a 10 minute phone conversation. So, the word “probably” is concrete evidence in the FBI’s mind when they are out to get someone. Also, Rep. Fortenberry is supposed to remember details about every person he talks to on the phone for 10 minutes even a year or two later. I’m sure he talkes to multiple people every day on the phone but he should remember someone who says probably in a conversation relating to a fundraiser from 2 years before. I smell shenanigans here! Can we ever trust the FBI again??
This is the problem republicans have. As soon as one of their colleagues runs into trouble, they are ready to boot him or her out. McCarthy should wade it out and wait for midterm elections. He needs to pay more attention to how demo rats take care of their own.
True, they stick together like glue, right or wrong. The GOP is ready to thru the accused under the bus.
The FBI has lied repeatedly to the American people and to President Trump. They have conspired to remove a president from office using lies and fake dossiers. They have ruthlessly pressed charges on a fake insurrection, resulting in innocent Americans being thrown into solitary confinement in prison.
Why would anyone believe the FBI on anything?
Nothing happens to these people, if the GOP takes over, will anything change. How long (if they can)will it take to correct Biden’s mistakes?