Republican congressman Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska announced on Saturday that he will resign from Congress after he was convicted for lying to federal authorities about an illegal campaign donation from a foreign national.
In a letter to the House obtained by the Washington Post, Fortenberry said he was resigning from Congress, effective March 31.
“It has been my honor to serve with you in the United States House of Representatives,” he said in the letter. “Due to the difficulties of my current circumstances, I can no longer effectively serve.”
Fortenberry’s announcement comes after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called on him to resign.
Fortenberry was indicted in October after authorities said he lied to FBI agents in two separate interviews about an illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent.
He was found guilty on one count of falsifying and concealing material facts and two counts of making false statements. Fortenberry faces up to five years in prison and fines for each of the three counts.
