Saturday, 31 May 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > Nebraska GOP state Sen. Flood wins ex-congressman’s seat
World

Nebraska GOP state Sen. Flood wins ex-congressman’s seat

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
Nebraska GOP state Sen. Flood wins ex-congressman’s seat
SHARE

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state Sen. Mike Flood won a special election Tuesday to replace former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a fellow Republican who was sentenced to two years of probation earlier in the day for a conviction on charges that he lied to federal agents.

Flood beat Democratic state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks in the state’s Republican-leaning 1st District, which includes Lincoln and dozens of smaller, mostly conservative towns in eastern Nebraska.

Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, will serve the rest of what would have been Fortenberry’s ninth term. He’ll be a strong favorite to win a new term in November, when he faces Pansing Brooks again in the general election.

Both candidates were nominated by their parties’ leaders in April to run in the special election. The next month, Nebraska primary voters picked them to run in the general election.

In court on Tuesday, Fortenberry sat quietly as U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld ordered him to serve probation, pay a $25,000 fine and perform community service. Blumenfeld rejected prosecutors’ request for a prison sentence, saying the ex-congressman “chose the wrong path,” but that his behavior in the case was out of character.

Fortenberry resigned in March shortly after a California jury found him guilty in the corruption case. He has maintained his innocence and said he plans to appeal. Before he was indicted in October, Fortenberry was expected to sail to an easy and largely uneventful win.

Prosecutors alleged that Fortenberry lied to federal agents multiple times about $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions he received from a foreign national at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles. Federal law bars donations from foreign nationals.

At his trial, prosecutors played phone recordings between Fortenberry and a donor-turned-informant, who warned the congressman that the donations had likely been funneled to him from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent. Fortenberry’s attorneys later argued that he didn’t hear the warning due to bad cellphone reception.

Fortenberry was charged after he claimed in two interviews with FBI agents that he didn’t know the donations had come from a foreign national, after the agents warned him that lying to them was a federal crime.

Fortenberry maintained his innocence throughout the process, going so far as to release a preemptive denial of the charges before they were announced in a video that he filmed inside a 1963 Ford F-150 pickup, with his wife and dog at his side. He also continued to campaign, decrying his prosecution as politically motivated and airing attack ads against Flood.

But as more details of the case became public, Fortenberry quickly lost support among top Nebraska Republicans. Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman dealt him a major blow when they endorsed Flood.

Flood stayed mostly positive throughout the campaign, airing several lighthearted ads, including one where he described himself as a conservative “ nerd ” who would get things done in Washington.

___

Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte

___

Melley reported from Los Angeles.

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article China’s Xi Names Police Ally to Head Public Security Ministry China’s Xi Names Police Ally to Head Public Security Ministry
Next Article Top Asian News 8:27 a.m. GMT Top Asian News 8:27 a.m. GMT

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

The best things celebrity parents told us this year

Camila Alves McConaughey, Mindy Kaling, Shaquille O'Neal and Nick Lachey are a few of the…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Tim Heyl on Homeward’s pivot in a high-rate setting

Whether or not it’s refining your online business mannequin, mastering new applied sciences, or discovering…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Sinbad Learning to Walk Again Two Years After Devastating Stroke

Daniel Knighton/GettyTwo years after a devastating stroke, actor and comedian Sinbad is learning to walk…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Armie Hammer is working as a timeshare salesman: Everything we know about his ‘normal job’

Armie Hammer's next chapter is one people didn't see coming — which is probably why…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Hamas should settle for hostage deal or be ‘annihilated’, warns Israeli defence minister – Center East disaster dwell
World

Hamas should settle for hostage deal or be ‘annihilated’, warns Israeli defence minister – Center East disaster dwell

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Anxious about weed: ought to London comply with New York and decriminalise hashish?
World

Anxious about weed: ought to London comply with New York and decriminalise hashish?

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Israeli airstrikes goal websites in western Syria, reportedly killing one
World

Israeli airstrikes goal websites in western Syria, reportedly killing one

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Trump will get tariff reprieve as he prepares Oval Workplace goodbye to Musk – US politics dwell
World

Trump will get tariff reprieve as he prepares Oval Workplace goodbye to Musk – US politics dwell

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?