Former US Rep.
A Los Angeles federal court jury last year had found the ex-congressman guilty of lying to FBI about the source of a $30,000 campaign contribution funneled to a fundraiser in that city. He announced his resignation two days later and said he planned to appeal.
A unanimous three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed that verdict, noting that the alleged false statements were made in Nebraska and in Washington. He wasn’t charged with violating federal election laws.
“Fortenberry’s trial took place in a state where no charged crime was committed, and before a jury drawn from the vicinage of the federal agencies that investigated the defendant,” the appeals court said. “The Constitution does not permit…
