Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D- Laredo , speaks about the U.S.-Mexico border at the World Trade Bridge at a news conference in Laredo on Feb. 17, 2023., D- Laredo , was indicted with his wife Imelda on Friday on charges of accepting almost $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan i energy company and a Mexican bank, the Justice Department
Cuellar traveled to Azerbaijan on a $25,000 trip with his wife Imelda in 2013, paid for by the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians. Shortly after, a Cuellar staffer went on another trip to Azerbaijan with several members, including Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, that was also facilitated by the group.to partaking in the coverup of the Azerbaijani's government's role financing the 2013 congressional trip that included Jackson Lee.
Azerbaijan has had interest in influencing Western governments due to tense relations with its neighbors. The country had been engaged in a long-running border dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave made of largely of ethnic Armenians, until Azerbaijan forcibly retook control of the territory last year.
Still, he is well respected within the Democratic Caucus for his prolific fundraising and reliability on major votes that count. Democratic leadership under Speaker Nancy Pelosiwhen Cisneros challenged him in the 2020 and 2022 primaries. Cuellar won in both primaries and the 2022 general election, despite heavy investment from Republicans to flip South Texas. He beat his 2022 Republican opponent, Cassy Garcia, by over 13 points.
“If his colleagues truly believe in putting ‘people over politics,’ they will call on him to resign. If not – they are hypocrites whose statements about public service aren’t worth the paper they’re written on,” NRCC spokesperson Delanie Bomar said in a statement.
Justice Department Indictment Imelda Cuellar Azerbaijan San Antonio Laredo South Texas Bribery Money Laundering
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar declares innocence amid report of incoming indictmentWASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, asserted his innocence in a statement Friday after NBC News reported federal investigators were planning to indi
Read more »
Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar declares innocence amid report of incoming indictmentMandatory evacuations have been issued in several areas of Harris County.
Read more »
Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar declares innocence amid report of incoming indictmentFollow us here to get the latest top headlines with KENS 5 anchor Sarah Forgany every weekday!
Read more »
Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar declares innocence amid report of incoming indictmentFBI agents raided the Democrat’s Laredo home and office in 2022 — weeks before his primary election — though his lawyer at the time asserted he was not the target of the investigation.
Read more »
Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar declares innocence amid report of incoming indictmentFBI agents raideded Cuellar’s Laredo home and office in 2022 — weeks before his primary election — though his lawyer at the time asserted he was not the target of the investigation.
Read more »
Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar indicted on bribery, conspiracy chargesDemocratic Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar is expected to be indicted, according to several reports.
Read more »