A moderate Democrat along the Texas-Mexico border, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar is facing federal conspiracy and bribery charges in connection with his ties to the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, were taken into custody in connection with a U.S. Department of Justice probe alleging they accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes in exchange for advancing the interests of an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a Mexican bank in the U.S. Cuellar, who has been in office since 2004, professed his innocence and vowed to continue his bid for an 11th term in November, emphasizing his service to the people of South Texas.
Cuellar’s family has a deep political presence along the border, with his brother serving as sheriff in Laredo and his sister running for state representative in the upcoming election. Despite the surprise expressed by some of Cuellar’s allies in the district, many still plan to support his reelection. Cuellar’s moderate politics have helped him maintain support in areas where Democrats have lost ground, like Starr County, where he won by a significant margin in the last election. Supporters expressed shock at the allegations against Cuellar, noting his longtime service and dedication to the region.
President Joe Biden narrowly won Starr County, but Cuellar emerged victorious by a significant margin in the last election. Supporters like Sylvia Bruni, chair of Webb County’s Democratic Party, are choosing to trust the legal system to work fairly while they focus on upcoming elections. Cuellar, in a statement, reiterated his innocence and highlighted legal advice he sought before taking any action related to the allegations. The charges against Cuellar and his wife include bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and acting as agents of foreign principals, with potential penalties including decades in prison and forfeiture of any proceeds linked to the alleged scheme.
The indictment details how payments to the couple were funneled through a Texas-based shell company owned by Imelda Cuellar and two of their children, with the money coming from the Azerbaijan energy company under a purported consulting agreement. The indictment describes the contract as a sham used to disguise the corrupt arrangement between Cuellar and the Azerbaijani government. Cuellar’s ties to Azerbaijan are further illustrated through communications in which he was referred to as “el Jefe” and “boss” by an Azerbaijani diplomat, along with emails from Cuellar’s staff pressuring State Department officials to renew a U.S. passport for an Azerbaijani diplomat’s daughter.
Cuellar, who was formerly the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, has been under federal scrutiny since the FBI raided his home in Laredo in 2022. He narrowly won a primary race in 2022 against progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros and has been vocal in his criticism of President Biden, particularly regarding immigration and border security. Despite facing challenges within his own party, Cuellar’s moderate politics have positioned him as a prominent figure along the Texas-Mexico border, where he has been able to maintain support in politically diverse areas. The future of Cuellar’s political career remains uncertain as he faces serious legal allegations that could have far-reaching consequences.
