OMAHA, Neb. (Washington Insider Magazine) – After a California jury found him guilty of lying to federal officials about an unlawful campaign contribution from a foreign person, Republican US Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska resigned on Saturday.
Fortenberry announced his resignation from Congress in a letter to the House, effective March 31.
Fortenberry’s statement came after political figures in Washington and Nebraska put pressure on him to resign. Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, and Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, both pushed Fortenberry to resign early Friday, according to ABC NEWS.
In October, Fortenberry was charged with lying to FBI investigators in 2 different interviews regarding his knowledge of an unlawful $30,000 donation to his political campaign from an offshore billionaire, according to officials. Fortenberry was interrogated at his house in Lincoln and then again in Washington, D.C., with his lawyers present.
Prosecutors played taped phone calls in which Fortenberry was continuously cautioned that the donations were coming from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese ancestry. At a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles, the funds were channeled through 3 straw donors.
Due to Fortenberry’s resignation from the primary, state Senator Mike Flood is now the most probable Republican nominee. Ricketts and former Governor Dave Heineman have endorsed the former speaker of the Nebraska Assembly, who has a significant lead in the Republican-leaning 1st Congressional District. State Senator Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, a Democrat, is also competing for the seat.
Flood praised Fortenberry for “his many years of distinguished service” and wished both him and his family all the best in a statement released by his campaign.
Fortenberry’s conviction, according to Pansing Brooks, is a “wake-up call” that the district has to reform.
A special election is anticipated to be called due to the date of Fortenberry’s resignation. Governors are unable to designate someone to the position.
When a congressional seat falls empty, Nebraska law requires the governor to conduct a special election in 90 days. Each political party is given the opportunity to nominate a candidate to run for the balance of the congressional member’s tenure.
Both Pansing Brooks and Flood will run in the special election to take the seat and then again in November to fulfill the remainder of the term.
Nebraska’s primary will be held on May 10th. It’s too late to withdraw Fortenberry’s candidacy from the primary ballot since counties already had mailed ballots to army members serving overseas and other absentee voters. There isn’t enough time to arrange a special election to occur with the primary, according to election authorities.
