LINCOLN, Neb. -- A long-term Nebraska politician who has faced legal questions following a federal indictment has announced his intentions to run for re-election.

Jeff Fortenberry, who currently represents Nebraska's first district in Congress and has served 17 years in the House, made the announcement on Monday via a video recorded in his pickup with his wife and dog.

Fortenberry currently stands accused of concealing campaign finance information and making false statements to federal authorities after he allegedly accepted illegal campaign funds during a California campaign event and lied to about the activity to a federal investigator. 

His attorneys had filed four motions to dismiss the case, and one motion to disqualify one of the prosecution's attorneys. All five motions were dismissed by a federal judge earlier this month.

Fortenberry is scheduled to go to trial in February, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Fortenberry was first elected to the House in 2004, beating former State Sen. Matt Connealy by 30,000 votes. Each of Fortenberry's next three elections were by progressively larger margins. He most recently claimed a ninth term by beating former State Sen. Kate Bolz in November of 2020.

Fortenberry is currently the only Republican in the race. State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, a Democrat, announced her intentions to run late last year. Fellow Democrat Joseph Zakaria has also announced his intentions to enter the race.