Rep. Fortenberry Asks Court to Dismiss Charges, Says Venue is Wrong

U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s lawyers have moved to have charges that he lied to the FBI about illegal campaign contributions dismissed on grounds that he was charged in the wrong place.

Fortenberry was charged in Los Angeles, where he allegedly received illegal campaign contributions at a fundraiser.

The motion filed by his lawyers on Tuesday said Fortenberry is charged with allegedly making two false statements, but that one was made in Lincoln and the other in Washington D.C.

“The government’s attempt to drag Congressman Fortenberry across the country to face a jury of Californians for these alleged offenses represents a gross abuse of power by the Department of Justice,” his lawyers said, adding that the government is “venue shopping” in violation of Fortenberry’s constitutional protections.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles had no immediate comment on the motion.