The FBI refiled charges against former U.S. congressman Jeffrey Fortenberry for falsifying and concealing campaign donations from Nigerian-Lebanese businessman Gilbert Chagoury. The case underscores concerns about foreign influence in U.S. politics and highlights the need for transparency and adherence to election laws.
The FBI has refiled charges against former U.S. congressman Jeffrey Fortenberry, accusing him of falsifying and concealing campaign donations received from Nigerian-Lebanese businessman Gilbert Chagoury, a close associate of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. The U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) prohibits accepting donations from foreigners and mandates disclosure of donors who contribute more than $50, rules that the FBI alleges Fortenberry violated.
Originally charged in California, the case was dismissed due to venue issues, prompting the FBI to bring a fresh indictment in Washington, D.C., in April. The charges revolve around a $30,000 donation collected by an FBI informant from Chagoury and distributed to Fortenberry's campaign in 2016, which was not disclosed in federal filings.
Fortenberry was informed about the illegal source of the donations in 2018 but failed to amend his reports. In a 2019 interview with federal investigators, he denied knowledge of the foreign contributions, despite being clearly informed about them in a 2018 phone call. The FBI is charging Fortenberry for lying to federal agents rather than for collecting the money.
Fortenberry has hired lawyers to contest the charges and resigned from the House of Representatives in March 2022 after the initial charges were filed. A spokesman for Chagoury declined to comment on the matter to Peoples Gazette.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about the integrity of campaign finance and the influence of foreign money in U.S. politics, underlining the importance of transparency and adherence to election laws.
