Representative Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.
Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | beautiful pictures
U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska resigned on Saturday after a California grand jury found him lying to federal authorities about an illegal funding campaign from a U.S. citizen. outside.
In a letter to the House of Representatives, Fortenberry said he will resign from Congress, effective March 31.
Fortenberry’s announcement prompted concerted pressure from political leaders in Nebraska and Washington to force him to resign. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Friday urged Fortenberry to step down. Nebraska Republican Governor Pete Ricketts said Fortenberry should “do the right thing for his voters” and leave the office he has held since 2005.
Fortenberry’s withdrawal from the primary round makes Senator Mike Flood a likely GOP candidate. The former Nebraska Legislature speaker, who has won endorsements from Ricketts and former Governor Dave Heineman, has a strong edge in the Republican-leaning 1st Congressional District. State Senator Patty Pansing Brooks, a Democrat from Lincoln, is also running for the seat.
Pansing Brooks said that Fortenberry’s conviction was a “wake-up call” that the district needed to change.
Fortenberry will be sentenced on June 28.
