Nebraska Republican begs for donations after announcing he's facing 'federal prosecution'

On Monday, Axios reported that Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), a prominent GOP official on the House Appropriations and Agriculture Committees, told his supporters he is facing "federal prosecution," and set up a fund to let them donate to his legal expenses — although it is unclear what exactly he expects to be charged with.

"In a new fundraising page for his legal expense fund, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) writes: '[President] Biden's FBI is using its unlimited power to prosecute me on a bogus charge,'" reported Lachlan Markay. "A Fortenberry spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI also did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Records on file with the House clerk show Fortenberry set up the legal expense trust on August 27."

Fortenberry has previously made national news for threatening a college professor who liked a social media post of a campaign sign defaced to read "Fartenberry," and for allegedly making false emergency calls to Capitol Police to test their response time.