Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife were charged on Friday.
May 3, 2024, published at 6:00 PM ET
Texas representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imeldahave been indicted on charges of money laundering and bribery, RadarOnline.com.
The Justice Department released the indictment Friday after a years-long investigation that included a raid on the couple's home in Laredo, Texas in January 2022.
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Cuellar is accused of taking $600,000 in foreign bribes.
The couple's charges relate to alleged ties to a bank in Mexico and an Azerbaijani-controlled oil and gas company. Cuellar is accused of using his office to influence US policy toward Azerbaijan NBC News.
Cuellar was a one-time co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
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The charges relate to the couple's alleged ties to a bank in Mexico and an oil and gas company from Azerbaijan.
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The Justice Department alleges that the couple accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities in exchange for using his office “to influence U.S. foreign policy.”
“The bribes were allegedly laundered, under sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen to shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, which performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts,” the Justice Department said.
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In 2022, Cuellar's home and office were raided in connection with a federal investigation in Azerbaijan.
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“In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence US foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan,” the statement continued.
“In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activities and advise and pressure senior officials of the U.S. executive branch regarding measures favorable to the bank.”
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The congressman denied any wrongdoing.
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In January 2022, the congressman's Laredo home and campaign office was raided by the FBI as part of a federal investigation into Azerbaijani businessmen and American businessmen with ties to the country.
Months later, in April 2022, Cuellar's attorney, Joshua Berman, claimed that federal authorities told him the congressman was not the target of the investigation.
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Before Friday's charges were released, Cuellar denied any wrongdoing and announced he plans to seek re-election in November.
“I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these charges. Everything I did in Congress was to serve the people of South Texas,” Cuellar said before later adding, “The actions I took in Congress were consistent. with the actions of many of my colleagues and in the interests of the American people.”
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Cuellar subsequently defended his wife of 32 years, calling her “a wonderful wife and mother.”
'[S[He'sanexperiencedbusinesswomanwithtwodegreesShehasworkedinthebankingtaxandconsultingindustryherentirecareertheclaimthatsheisanythingbutqualifiedandhardworkingisbothwrongandoffensive'[S[Hijiseenervarenzakenvrouwmettweediploma'sZeheefthaarhelecarrièreindebank-belasting-enadviesbranchegewerktDebeweringdatzeallesbehalvegekwalificeerdenhardwerkendisiszowelverkeerdalsaanstootgevend'[S[he’sanaccomplishedbusinesswomanwithtwodegreesShespenthercareerworkingwithbankingtaxandconsultingTheallegationthatsheisanythingbutqualifiedandhardworkingisbothwrongandoffensive”
“Let me be clear: I am running for re-election and will win in November,” Cuellar added.
