Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican convicted of mendacity to federal investigators about unlawful donations to his marketing campaign, introduced Saturday that he's resigning from Congress.

Fortenberry, 61, was discovered responsible Thursday of allegedly mendacity about accepting a donation from Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury in violation of legal guidelines banning overseas nationals from contributing to a federal marketing campaign.

He introduced his plans to resign from Congress "shortly" in an announcement, writing that he can "now not serve" his constituents successfully "because of the difficulties of my present circumstances."

"Thanks for entrusting me with the good accountability of governing our nation," he wrote. "Once I first ran for Congress, I stated I might deal with our nationwide safety, financial safety, and household safety. It's my sincerest hope that I've made a contribution to the betterment of America, and the wellbeing of our nice state of Nebraska."

Prosecutors stated he "lied to and misled authorities" when he was being interviewed concerning the $30,000 donation from Chagoury, who allegedly tried to get across the guidelines by giving the cash via "straw donors" who attended a fundraising occasion in Los Angeles for the congressman's 2016 reelection bid.

He was discovered responsible of 1 depend of scheming to falsify and conceal materials info and two counts of creating false statements to federal investigators. Every depend carries a most penalty of 5 years in jail, and Fortenberry is about to be sentenced June 28.

The congressman has maintained his innocence, nevertheless, and stated he would attraction the choice.

"We at all times felt prefer it was going to be onerous to have a good course of right here," he stated after the decision, in accordance with KETV-Omaha. "So this attraction begins instantly."

Democrat and Republican lawmakers, together with Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, have referred to as for his resignation.

"I feel when somebody's convicted, it is time to resign," McCarthy stated Friday alongside different GOP lawmakers, including that if Fortenberry needs to attraction the conviction, he ought to achieve this as a non-public citizen.

Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, stated he ought to resign in an announcement, writing that his conviction "represents a breach of the general public belief and confidence in his capability to serve."

Fortenberry was first elected to Congress in 2004 and leaves open a Home seat that Republicans are more likely to maintain. Former President Donald Trump gained the newly redrawn district, which incorporates Lincoln and different elements of jap Nebraska, by simply over 11 factors in 2020.

He confronted a main challenger from Senator Mike Flood. Distinguished Nebraska Republicans together with Governor Pete Ricketts backed his main opponent after he was indicted final October.

Newsweek reached out to Fortenberry's workplace for additional remark Saturday. This story shall be up to date with any response.

Jeff Fortenberry resigns from Congress
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, above in October 2013, introduced he would resign from Congress after being discovered responsible of mendacity to federal investigators concerning unlawful donations to his marketing campaign. Andrew Burton/Getty Photographs