Representative Henry Cuellar said this week that he tried to meet with prosecutors before being accused of taking nearly $600,000 in bribes.
The Texas Democrat was indicted by the Justice Department on bribery and conspiracy charges in connection with an investigation into his ties to business leaders and Azerbaijan, the Associated Press reported on Friday. The indictment alleges that he accepted almost $600,000 in bribes from an energy company controlled by Azerbaijan and a bank in Mexico.
In a statement obtained by Newsweek, Cuellar disputed the allegations and said, "We requested a meeting with the Washington D.C. prosecutors to explain the facts and they refused to discuss the case with us or hear our side."
He continued: "Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas. Before I took action, I proactively sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee, who gave me more than one written opinion, along with an additional opinion from a national law firm."
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice via its website for comment.
The Context
Cuellar previously served as chair of the Azerbaijan Caucus in Congress.
In 2022, FBI agents raided his residence in Texas, the AP reported, in connection with a broader investigation into Azerbaijan. His office issued a statement saying, "Congressman Cuellar will fully cooperate in any investigation. He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld."
In 2013, Cuellar traveled to Azerbaijan, federal disclosures obtained by the AP showed.
What We Know
Zachary Cohen of CNN shared a press release from the Department of Justice in the Southern District of Texas, which says that beginning in December 2014 and continuing until at least November 2021, Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, allegedly accepted bribes. In exchange, "Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan."
The release continued: "In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank."
Views
Greg Price of the State Freedom Caucus Network responded to the indictment on X (formerly Twitter), saying: "BREAKING: Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife have been charged by the DOJ for allegedly taking $600,000 in bribes from an oil & gas company owned and controlled by the government of Azerbaijan."
Price added: "That's now two Democrats in Congress indicted for taking foreign bribes," an allusion to the recent indictment of New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez.
Conservative commentator Mike Cernovich wrote on X, "Watch him not get removed from Congress. Only Republicans do this s***. Santos gone but the Senate Democrats kept a foreign agent and Cuellar knows his seat is safe, too."
What's Next
Max Cohen of PunchBowl News said on X that House Democratic Caucus leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that Cuellar "will take leave as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee while this matter is ongoing."
Update 5/3/24, 2:35 and 3:35 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
