Former Representative Jeff Fortenberry's conviction has been overturned by a federal appeals court, citing that his trial should not have taken place in Los Angeles. In March 2022, Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican, was found guilty by a jury on three felony charges related to lying to federal authorities about illegal campaign donations he received in 2016. The donations, totaling $30,000, were traced back to a Lebanese Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury, who was ineligible to contribute to an American candidate due to his foreign citizenship.

During investigations conducted at Fortenberry's home in Nebraska and his lawyer's office in Washington, D.C., he claimed to be unaware of the funds' source. However, an FBI agent had previously intercepted a phone call in which a cooperating witness informed the congressman about the origin of the donations. The three-judge panel determined that Fortenberry should not have been tried in Los Angeles because he made his statements about the campaign contributions in Nebraska and Washington, D.C. Instead, the constitution requires a criminal defendant to be tried in the place where the criminal conduct occurred.

Judge James Donato, writing on behalf of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, stated that Fortenberry could be retried in a proper venue. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, represented by spokesman Thom Mrozek, expressed openness to a retrial but emphasized the need to evaluate potential next steps before deciding how to proceed.

Following his conviction, Fortenberry resigned from Congress, heeding calls from Nebraska's Republican governor and colleagues from both parties, including Representative Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, and Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker. In June 2022, he was sentenced to two years of probation, a fine of $25,000, and 320 hours of community service.

The Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury, has faced consequences for his improper campaign donations as well, having paid $1.8 million in fines to the U.S. government.