JEFF FORTENBERRY

A federal judge has rejected U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s attempts to dismiss charges accusing the Nebraska Republican of making false statements to FBI agents who were investigating an illegal foreign donation to his campaign.

A federal judge on Monday rejected U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s attempts to dismiss charges accusing the Nebraska Republican of making false statements to FBI agents who were investigating an illegal foreign donation to his campaign. U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. denied Fortenberry's motions to get the case tossed, increasing the odds that he will have to stand trial in a Los Angeles federal court. Fortenberry is accused of lying to the FBI and concealing information from agents who were looking into a donation his campaign received from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska will likely be facing two opponents in the 2022 election: a progressive Democrat with a lot of support in the state’s second-largest city, and a federal prosecutor in California who has accused him of lying to the FBI.

He's been accused of lying about foreign contributions to his campaign.

He's been accused of lying about foreign contributions to his campaign.

The Republican is accused of lying to the FBI about illegal campaign contributions made to his 2016 reelection bid.

The indictment says Rep. Fortenberry falsely told investigators that he wasn't aware of illegal campaign contributions.

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican, said he is shocked to be accused of lying to FBI agents when asked about campaign contributions.

A federal grand jury has indicted U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, accusing him of lying to the FBI and concealing information from federal agents who were investigating campaign contributions funneled to him from a Nigerian billionaire.

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) told supporters on Tuesday he expects to be indicted on allegations he lied to federal investigators.Driving the news: In a video uploaded to YouTube, the congressman sat with his wife and dog in a vintage pickup truck as he announced federal prosecutors in California "accused me of lying, and are charging me with this."Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free."We will fight these charges. I did not lie to them," Fortenberry added.

The top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee's agriculture panel says he's facing federal prosecution, Axios has learned.Driving the news: In a new fundraising page for his legal expense fund — that was quickly removed — Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) writes: "[President] Biden’s FBI is using its unlimited power to prosecute me on a bogus charge."Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeA Fortenberry spokesperson said the inv