Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his wife, Imelda, have been indicted by the Justice Department on charges of accepting $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani oil and gas company and a Mexican bank between 2014 and 2021. The couple appeared in a Houston federal court to face allegations of participating in bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering schemes.
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According to prosecutors, the Cuellars accepted the bribes through shell companies owned by Imelda from Socar, Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil firm, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The congressman allegedly influenced US foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan and agreed to influence legislative activity and pressure high-ranking US Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the Mexican bank.
The couple faces charges including conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, and money laundering. They could face up to 204 years in federal prison if convicted.
Cuellar, known as a pro-life moderate critical of President Biden’s border policies, issued a statement denying the allegations and asserting his innocence. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that Cuellar would take leave as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee while the legal process unfolds.
This is not the first time Cuellar has faced legal scrutiny, as his office was searched in January 2022 in connection with ties to Azerbaijan and US businessmen. Despite the charges, Cuellar affirmed his intention to run for re-election and emphasized his commitment to serving the people of South Texas.
The indictment of Cuellar and his wife adds to the recent legal troubles faced by Democratic lawmakers, with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) scheduled to go to trial on corruption allegations in May. Cuellar’s case highlights the ongoing challenges of corruption and influence peddling in politics, raising questions about accountability and ethics in government.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his wife, Imelda, have been indicted by the Justice Department on charges of accepting $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani oil and gas company and a Mexican bank between 2014 and 2021. The couple appeared in a Houston federal court to face allegations of participating in bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering schemes.
According to prosecutors, the Cuellars accepted the bribes through shell companies owned by Imelda from Socar, Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil firm, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The congressman allegedly influenced US foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan and agreed to influence legislative activity and pressure high-ranking US Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the Mexican bank.
The couple faces charges including conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, and money laundering. They could face up to 204 years in federal prison if convicted.
Cuellar, known as a pro-life moderate critical of President Biden’s border policies, issued a statement denying the allegations and asserting his innocence. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that Cuellar would take leave as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee while the legal process unfolds.
This is not the first time Cuellar has faced legal scrutiny, as his office was searched in January 2022 in connection with ties to Azerbaijan and US businessmen. Despite the charges, Cuellar affirmed his intention to run for re-election and emphasized his commitment to serving the people of South Texas.
The indictment of Cuellar and his wife adds to the recent legal troubles faced by Democratic lawmakers, with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) scheduled to go to trial on corruption allegations in May. Cuellar’s case highlights the ongoing challenges of corruption and influence peddling in politics, raising questions about accountability and ethics in government.
