The federal appeals court overturned the conviction of former Nebraska congressman Jeff Fortenberry for lying to authorities investigating illegal contributions to his 2016 reelection campaign, stating that his trial was held in the wrong place.
The court ruled that Fortenberry should not have been tried in Los Angeles, and the U.S. Department of Justice could seek a new trial in Nebraska or Washington, D.C.
The case involved allegations of illegal campaign contributions from a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire. (Trending: Trump Releases Must-See TV Ad Ahead of 2024)
Judge James Donato wrote, “This outlandish outcome cannot be squared with the Constitution.”
A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada’s office, wrote, “We are evaluating potential next steps before deciding how best to move forward.”
“We are gratified by the Ninth Circuit’s decision,” wrote Fortenberry in a statement.
“Celeste and I would like to thank everyone who has stood by us and supported us with their kindness and friendship,” he continued.
Fortenberry resigned from Congress and was sentenced to probation and community service.
The court’s decision was welcomed by Fortenberry and his wife.
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