Former Rep. Fortenberry asks for trial delay, says Trump’s AG could toss case

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry on Monday asked a judge to delay his trial.

The Nebraska Republican is set to be tried in February, but his defense argues that could be a waste of time and money.

Fortenberry’s attorneys think President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general could decide to drop the charges.

They want the trial delayed by two months to give the Department of Justice’s new leadership time to review the case.

SEE ALSO: New trial set for February, again alleging Fortenberry lied to FBI after 2016 fundraiser

Fortenberry represented Lincoln and the surrounding area in the U.S. House of Representatives for 17 years.

But he was convicted in California in 2022 of lying to federal investigators about an illegal campaign contribution from a foreign billionaire.

He quickly resigned and was sentenced to two years of probation.

SEE ALSO: Evidence conflicts on whether FBI planned, early, to charge Fortenberry

But in December 2023, an appeals court overturned his conviction, ruling that he was tried in the wrong jurisdiction.

Fortenberry’s trial was in California because the illegal contribution was made at a fundraiser in the Golden State.

But the court said he should have been tried in Nebraska or the District of Columbia, which is where he is accused of making the false statements.

SEE ALSO: FBI agent testifies about interview with Rep. Jeff Fortenberry

In May, prosecutors filed new charges against Fortenberry in Washington.

Fortenberry has argued in court filings that the prosecution against him is politically motivated.

The motion for a trial delay notes that Trump has promised to review cases for political bias.

Trump once called the Fortenberry case “very unfair,” the document says.

SEE ALSO: Organizer of L.A. fundraiser said he didn’t tell Fortenberry the funds raised were illegal