Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar indicted on bribery and international affect

The Justice Division on Friday released an indictment in opposition to longtime Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and his spouse, Imelda, charging the pair with bribery and cash laundering associated to their ties with an oil and fuel firm managed by Azerbaijan and a financial institution in Mexico Metropolis.

NBC Information was first to report that the fees have been coming.

Cuellar’s residence and marketing campaign workplace in Laredo, Texas, were raided in January 2022 as a part of a federal investigation into Azerbaijan and a gaggle of U.S. businessmen who’ve ties to the nation, legislation enforcement stated on the time. His workplace had pledged to cooperate with the investigation. In April, Cuellar’s lawyer, Joshua Berman, told some news outlets that federal authorities knowledgeable him he was not the goal of the investigation.

Cuellar is a one-time co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.

It wasn’t instantly clear if the indictment was associated to the 2022 raid. The Justice Division declined to remark.

Cuellar’s workers have been calling different member workplaces Friday in search of recommendation on the right way to deal with the scenario, one supply with information of these calls instructed NBC Information.

In a press release Friday, Cuellar denied any wrongdoing, saying that he had “proactively sought authorized recommendation” from the Home Ethics Committee, which had issued “multiple written opinion” concerning the matter. A lot of his assertion centered on his spouse, Imelda Cuellar, although it wasn’t instantly clear why.

“I wish to be clear that each my spouse and I are harmless of those allegations. Every little thing I’ve carried out in Congress has been to serve the individuals of South Texas,” Cuellar stated in his assertion, later including: “The actions I took in Congress have been in step with the actions of a lot of my colleagues and within the curiosity of the American individuals …”

“Imelda and I’ve been married for 32 years. On prime of being an incredible spouse and mom, she’s an achieved businesswoman with two levels. She spent her profession working with banking, tax, and consulting,” he continued. “The allegation that she is something however certified and arduous working is each unsuitable and offensive.”

A defiant Cuellar additionally made clear he’ll search re-election: “Let me be clear, I am operating for re-election and can win this November.”

A 12 months after the raid on his residence — which has not beforehand yielded arrests or prices — Cuellar instructed the Texas Tribune: “There was no wrongdoing on my half. … My focus stays the identical from my very first day in workplace: delivering outcomes for Texans throughout my district.”

Regardless of the raid, Cuellar narrowly defeated a progressive challenger, Jessica Cisneros, in his 2022 major and went on to win re-election to his seat that November. He did not face a major challenger this 12 months and can be on the poll this November in search of his eleventh time period in Congress.

Two years in the past, Cuellar simply defeated Republican nominee Cassy Garcia, 57% to 43%. His district grew to become bluer when he picked up components of San Antonio following redistricting. However the indictment will make Cuellar extra weak than previously; in 2020, Joe Biden gained Cuellar’s district over Donald Trump by 7 proportion factors.

Two Republicans will face one another in a runoff election in late Might for an opportunity to tackle Cuellar within the fall.

“Henry Cuellar doesn’t put Texas first, he places himself first,” stated Delanie Bomar, a spokesperson for the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee. “If his colleagues really consider in placing ‘individuals over politics,’ they’ll name on him to resign. If not — they’re hypocrites whose statements about public service aren’t definitely worth the paper they’re written on.”

Cuellar, 66, a lawyer, is a former customs dealer and Texas secretary of state. A member of the centrist Blue Canines and New Democrat Coalition, Cuellar was elected to the Home in 2004.

He is the one Democrat left in Congress who opposes abortion rights — a place that has infuriated many in his party