Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife are facing federal charges of conspiracy and bribery. According to prosecutors, they are accused of accepting approximately $600,000 from an Azerbaijani-controlled company and a Mexican bank.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the charges on Friday, following Mr Cuellar’s protest of his innocence.
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From 2014 to 2021, Mr. Cuellar and his wife Imelda are accused of accepting almost $600,000 in bribes. These bribes allegedly came from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a Mexican bank. In return for these payments, the congressman is said to have agreed to promote the interests of both the country and the bank within the United States. An indictment has been filed regarding these allegations.
According to reports, it is believed that Ms. Cuellar had allegedly laundered the money through a network of front companies and intermediaries before transferring it to her own shell companies.
Mr. Cuellar is alleged to have agreed to exert his influence on legislation to benefit Azerbaijan and to deliver a speech in favor of Azerbaijan on the floor of the US House.
The congressman made the announcement following his earlier statement on Friday, where he asserted that his actions in Congress were solely aimed at serving the people of South Texas.
“I want to clarify that my wife and I are completely innocent of these allegations,” stated Mr. Cuellar. “Prior to taking any action, I took the initiative to seek legal counsel from the House Ethics Committee. They provided me with multiple written opinions, as well as an additional opinion from a reputable law firm.”
In addition, we reached out to the Washington DC prosecutors to arrange a meeting and provide them with the necessary information. However, they declined our request and showed no interest in discussing the case or listening to our perspective.
According to the statement, he asserted that his actions in Congress aligned with those of his fellow colleagues and were in the best interest of the American people.
Mr. Cuellar, a conservative Democrat, has consistently faced scrutiny from progressives due to his stance against abortion rights. In both 2020 and 2022, Jessica Cisneros posed a primary challenge against him, resulting in a runoff election. Despite the competition, Mr. Cuellar emerged victorious in both instances.
Mr. Cuellar has been highly critical of other Democrats’ immigration policies and has formed a group of like-minded Democrats known as the Democrats for Border Security Task Force.
At one point, he held the position of co-chair for the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
Mr. Cuellar’s family holds a significant position in the district. His brother serves as the sheriff of Webb County, and his sister has previously served as a judge for Rio Bravo and Webb County. Due to his influential role and strong presence, he has been affectionately referred to as “the King of Laredo,” which is his hometown.
In 2022, Mr. Cuellar’s congressional office in Laredo and his home were raided by the FBI. According to his attorney at the time, the congressman was not the focus of the investigation.
According to a person with direct knowledge of the probe, the FBI conducted a wide-ranging investigation related to Azerbaijan. As part of this investigation, FBI agents served subpoenas and conducted interviews in Washington DC and Texas, as reported by The Associated Press.
According to federal disclosures, Congressman Cuellar, who has served nine terms, made a trip to Azerbaijan in 2013. In 2015, his office revealed that a Texas university had entered into a collaboration with an organization named the Assembly of Friends of Azerbaijan. The partnership aimed to facilitate joint efforts in the field of oil and gas research as well as education.
Despite the contentious nature of the 2022 raids, Mr. Cuellar successfully fended off a second challenge from Jessica Cisneros, a left-wing Democratic candidate.
In an interview with the Texas Tribune, the congressman reassured that there had been no wrongdoing on his part, and emphasized his unwavering commitment to delivering results for Texans in his district.
Despite the controversy, Mr. Cuellar remains undeterred and has expressed his determination to run for reelection to Congress in November. If successful, this would mark his 11th term in office.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) expressed their opinion on X, stating that Cuellar prioritizes himself over Texas. They also questioned whether House Democrats would demand his resignation.
