Washington, D.C. – A Texas congressman, Henry Cuellar, and his wife, Imelda, are facing charges of bribery and money laundering in connection to a Mexican bank and an oil and gas company from Azerbaijan, as revealed in an indictment released by the Justice Department on Friday.
The indictment alleges that the Cuellars received approximately $600,000 in bribes from these foreign entities in exchange for Congressman Cuellar performing official actions. The Department of Justice stated that these bribe payments were allegedly laundered through sham consulting contracts and shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar.
According to the indictment, the congressman allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan in exchange for bribes from the oil and gas company. Additionally, he allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and advise high-ranking U.S. officials in favor of the Mexican bank.
Both Congressman Cuellar and his wife face multiple charges, including conspiracy, bribery of a federal official, wire fraud, violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, and money laundering. If convicted, they could potentially face significant prison time.
Prior to the indictment’s release, Cuellar denied any wrongdoing, stating that he and his wife are innocent of the allegations. He emphasized that his actions in Congress were aimed at serving the people of South Texas and that he intends to seek re-election.
This is not the first time Cuellar’s ties to Azerbaijan have come under scrutiny. His home and campaign office were raided in January 2022 as part of a federal investigation related to the country and U.S. businessmen with connections to Azerbaijan.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Cuellar narrowly defeated a progressive challenger in his 2022 primary and won re-election to his seat. He is currently seeking his 11th term in Congress and will face two Republican candidates in a runoff election in late May.
The indictment is expected to make Cuellar more vulnerable in this election cycle, particularly in a district that has become increasingly Democratic. His stance as the only Democrat opposing abortion rights has also stirred controversy within his party. As the legal proceedings unfold, the future of Congressman Cuellar’s political career remains uncertain.