LINCOLN — A spokesman for Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., on Monday tamped down a report that the congressman was facing federal prosecution in connection with illegal campaign donations provided by a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire.

In March, the U.S. Justice Department announced its settlement with the billionaire, Gilbert Chagoury, over his efforts going back to 2012 to provide illegal “conduit” contributions to the political campaigns of four U.S. Congress members, including Fortenberry and former Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb.

Donations from foreigners to American campaigns are illegal. Chagoury, a Paris resident, paid a $1.8 million fine as part of the settlement over $180,000 in contributions, of which $30,200 went to Fortenberry’s 2016 campaign and $10,000 to Terry’s 2014 run.

Chad Kolton, a Fortenberry spokesman, said the congressman began fundraising this summer for an expected legal defense prompted by an FBI investigation into the donations.

“The people involved in that scheme were prosecuted, and no charges were filed against (Fortenberry),” Kolton said. “This legal expense trust was established in part to address costs associated with that investigation.”

The website Axios reported Monday that Fortenberry had set up a new “Fight with Fort” fundraising page for his legal expense fund. The Facebook page said, “(President Joe) Biden’s FBI is using its unlimited power to prosecute me on a bogus charge.”

The fundraising page, which was set up on Aug. 27, according to Axios, has since been removed from public view.

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