The Justice Department has indicted Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, on charges of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a Mexico-based bank between 2014 and 2021. The DOJ alleges that in exchange for the bribes, Cuellar agreed to deliver a speech on the House floor on behalf of Azerbaijan, support legislation favorable to the country, and pressure high-ranking U.S. officials to take actions that would benefit the bank. The money was allegedly laundered to a shell company owned by Cuellar’s wife through bogus consulting contracts. Both Cuellar and his wife are facing charges of bribery of a federal official and money laundering, among other charges that carry maximum prison sentences ranging from five to 20 years.
Cuellar denied any wrongdoing in response to the charges, stating that he and his wife are innocent of the allegations. Despite the indictment, Cuellar has no plans to end his reelection campaign, as he is up for reelection in November. He won his election for a 10th term in 2022, and will face the winner of the May Republican primary in the upcoming election.
The indictment comes more than two years after federal authorities raided Cuellar’s campaign office and home in Laredo, Texas, as part of an investigation into businessmen with ties to Azerbaijan. Cuellar, who was the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus at the time of the raid, has made multiple visits to Azerbaijan, including a lavish trip in 2013 that was secretly funded by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic. While no arrests or charges have been made in connection with the raid, it is unclear whether the current indictment is linked to the DOJ’s Azerbaijan investigation.
Cuellar sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee and a national law firm in light of the charges, expressing concern about some congressional actions he took that were consistent with those of his colleagues and in the interest of the American people. The charges against Cuellar and his wife include two counts of bribery of a federal official and five counts of money laundering, as well as other charges that carry significant prison sentences.
The indictment follows reports that multiple outlets had knowledge of the charges before they were made public. Cuellar has maintained his innocence and continues to campaign for reelection, despite facing serious allegations of bribery and money laundering. The case has sparked new scrutiny of Cuellar’s ties to Azerbaijan and his involvement with foreign entities, raising questions about his conduct as a member of Congress. The outcome of the legal proceedings against Cuellar and his wife remains to be seen as the investigation unfolds.
