Texas Rep. Cuellar, Wife Indicted for Bribery, Foreign Influence
TL/DR –
US Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, have been indicted by the Justice Department on charges of bribery and money laundering related to their connections with a Mexican bank and an Azerbaijani oil and gas company. The Cuellars are accused of accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes in return for the congressman performing official acts, allegedly laundering the money through sham consulting contracts and various front and shell companies. Despite the charges, Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing and reaffirmed his intention to run for re-election in November.
Justice Department Indicts Rep. Henry Cuellar and Wife Over Alleged Bribery and Money Laundering
On Friday, the Justice Department unsealed an indictment against Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and his wife, Imelda. The pair are charged with bribery and money laundering tied to a Mexican bank and an Azerbaijan-controlled oil and gas company.
The Cuellars are alleged to have accepted around $600,000 in bribes from these entities, in return for the congressman performing official tasks, states the indictment. The Department of Justice (DOJ) explained that the bribes were allegedly laundered through fake consulting contracts and front companies into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar.
The DOJ further suggests that for the bribes from the Azerbaijani company, Cuellar used his office to sway U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan. The Mexican bank bribes allegedly led Cuellar to influence legislative activities and pressure high-ranking U.S. officials regarding measures that benefitted the bank.
Back in January 2022, Cuellar’s home and campaign office in Laredo, Texas, were raided as part of a federal investigation into Azerbaijan and a group of U.S. businessmen linked to the country. In April, Joshua Berman, Cuellar’s attorney, stated that federal authorities informed him Cuellar was not the probe’s target.
Prior to the indictment’s unsealing, Cuellar’s team was reportedly seeking advice on handling the situation. Cuellar denied any wrongdoing in a statement, asserting his actions were consistent with those of his colleagues and in the American people’s interest. He further defended his wife and affirmed his re-election bid: “Let me be clear, I’m running for re-election and will win this November.”
Despite an earlier raid on his home, Cuellar narrowly saw off a progressive challenger in his 2022 primary and won re-election that November. He now seeks his 11th congressional term. His indictment does, however, make him more vulnerable than before; in 2020, Joe Biden won Cuellar’s district by 7 percentage points.
“Henry Cuellar does not put Texas first, he puts himself first,” critiqued Delanie Bomar, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, calling for Cuellar’s resignation.
Aged 66, Cuellar, a lawyer and former customs broker, has been a member of the House since 2004. He is the last Democrat in Congress who opposes abortion rights, a stance that has irked many in his party.
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