House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called on Rep. Jeff Fortenberry to resign on Friday, a day after the Nebraska Republican was found guilty on multiple charges of lying to the FBI.
“I’m going to discuss with him today,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said. told reporters at the annual House Republican retreat in Florida. “I think he’s had his day in court and I think if he wants to appeal he can do that in private.”
“I think out of respect you can let me speak to him today, but I think if anyone is convicted then it’s time to step down.”
On Thursday, a federal jury in California found Fortenberry guilty of one count of forgery and concealment of material facts and two counts of false testimony.
The charges were related to two interviews the Republican conducted with FBI agents about an illegal campaign contribution by Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury in 2016.
While Fortenberry’s legal team claimed the congressman did not know about the illegal donation, prosecutors insisted the lawmaker lied about what he knew in multiple interviews.
The nine-term Republican plans to seek re-election and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28.
Fortenberry has not issued a public statement since the ruling and his office did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment.
https://nypost.com/2022/03/25/kevin-mccarthy-calls-on-rep-jeff-fortenberry-to-resign/ Kevin McCarthy calls on Rep. Jeff Fortenberry to resign