A US lawmaker could face expulsion from
Congress for lying about funding ties to
an African billionaire.
Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican from
Nebraska, lied to the FBI about taking
illegal donations from Gilbert Chagoury, a
high-flying Nigerian businessman, a
federal jury found.
He could be sentenced to 15 years in
prison on three felony counts.
The case has also renewed attention on
the access of foreign influencers on US
politics.
It is illegal for foreign nationals to make
political contributions, but Mr Chagoury,
75, has made several. In 2019, he was
fined $1.8m (£1.4m) by the US
government, and some recipients of his
donations were investigated.
In 2016, he illegally donated $30,000
(£22,736) in 2016 to Fortenberry,
funnelling the funds to the congressman
through donors at a Los Angeles event.
A Paris-based industrialist, Mr Chagoury
had a high profile. His name adorns a
wing of the Louvre Museum, and he was
once denied a US visa for alleged ties to
Hezbollah militants.
He was once a top advisor to Nigerian
military ruler Sani Abacha, who was later
found to have stolen billions from the
country as its head of state in the 1990s.
Mr Chagoury also happens to be
ambassador to the Vatican for the island
nation of St Lucia. Said to be a devout
Catholic, he and Fortenberry, 61, have
been linked to a Washington-based
nonprofit called In Defense of Christians.
Officials are yet to explicitly say why he
targeted the congressman, but US Justice
Department documents claim Mr
Chagoury was advised to "contribute to
US politicians from less populous states"
because the gifts would be "more
noticeable".
In a recorded phone call, Fortenberry was
told that he had likely received $30,000
illegally through associates of Mr
Chagoury.
But in meetings with FBI agents,
Fortenberry denied any knowledge, telling
them he would have been "horrified" to
hear such a claim.
Prosecutors argued he then "repeatedly"
concealed the donation in order "to
protect his job, his reputation and his
close associates".
On Thursday, jurors at his trial in Los
Angeles deliberated for about two hours
before finding him guilty on charges of
making false states and concealing facts
to federal agents.
"If we want anyone to follow the law,
ultimately it starts with the lawmakers,"
Chief prosecutor Mack Jenkins said. "We
hold them to a higher standard."
He is expected to be sentenced on 28
June, but has said he will appeal the
verdict.
Although he is not required to do so,
Republicans and Democrats in the US
House of Representatives have called for
him to resign. If he does not, he is almost
certain to be expelled, as has been the
case for previous Congress members
convicted of felonies.


Source: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/nigeria/us-lawmaker-toppled-by-nigerian-billionaire-cash/ar-AAVv0Nk
Lalasticlala Myndd44

Democracy is a system of highest bidder and corruption. Money runs the world

Naija bizman has landed him out of position

Republicans.

Na dem still receive money from Atiku that time to allow him visit US before the 2019 election.

They are as corrupt as can be.