Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife have been charged with accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities, according to an indictment in federal court in Texas. The alleged scheme took place from late 2014 through at least November 2021.
The congressman and his wife made their initial court appearance on Friday in Houston and were released on a $100,000 bond. They are facing several charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official, violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, and money laundering.
In a statement on Friday, Cuellar maintained their innocence, stating that everything he has done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas. He also defended his wife, emphasizing her qualifications and hard work.
Prosecutors allege that the Cuellars crafted two yearslong schemes to receive bribes from a government-owned oil and gas company in Azerbaijan and a bank in Mexico City. The indictment states that in exchange for bribe payments, Cuellar agreed to perform official acts in violation of his duties and act as an agent of the foreign entities.
Among the promises made, Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence US policy regarding Azerbaijan's conflict with Armenia, give a pro-Azerbaijani speech on the House floor, and advocate for legislative measures benefiting the foreign entities. The couple received bribe payments through shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar.
The Cuellars allegedly used the proceeds from the bribery schemes to pay taxes, pay down debt, and make extravagant purchases, including a $12,000 custom gown. Cuellar's home and campaign office in Laredo, Texas, were raided by the FBI in 2022.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' spokesperson stated that Cuellar is entitled to the presumption of innocence but will temporarily step down from his position on a House Appropriations Subcommittee during the investigation. The National Republican Congressional Committee has called on Cuellar to resign.
