Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s trial set to begin Wednesday in California

Nine-term Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's fight with the federal government is set to begin on Wednesday in California after years of investigation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nine-term Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s fight with the federal government is set to begin on Wednesday in California after years of investigation.

Fortenberry, who represents Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, is accused of accepting $30,000 from a foreign national for his 2016 campaign and then lying to the FBI during their investigation into those donations.

From the get-go, Fortenberry has denied the allegations.

“I told them what I knew and what I understood. They’ve accused me of lying to them, and are charging me with this,” Rep. Fortenberry said in a recorded video message, “We’re shocked. We’re stunned. I feel so personally betrayed. We thought we were trying to help.”

Fortenberry would later be indicted on one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts, along with two counts of making false statements to federal investigators.  He would plead not guilty to all charges.

Court documents say Fortenberry never publicly disclosed the money that came from the foreign national, violating federal election law.  The charging document says Fortenberry “knowingly and willfully falsified, concealed, and covered up by trick, scheme, and device material facts.”

Fortenberry’s legal team has filed numerous motions including allegations that one of the FBI agents investigating was racist, an allegation that prosecutors mislead his lawyers and most recently, a request to move his trial to Nebraska.  All of those motions were denied.

Jury selection for the trial is set to begin Wednesday morning in a California court room.