Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife, Imelda, have been charged with participating in a $600,000 bribery scheme involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank, according to a federal indictment unsealed in Houston. The charges involve bribery and money laundering in connection with efforts on behalf of an oil and gas company owned by Azerbaijan’s leaders and a Mexican bank.
The indictment claims that Mr. Cuellar acted as an agent of a foreign entity while a U.S. government official by delivering a speech favoring Azerbaijan in Congress and inserting provisions into aid bills to benefit those paying bribes to his family. Prosecutors allege that Mr. Cuellar accepted payments to support legislation beneficial to foreign-owned businesses, including measures to stymie regulation of the payday loan industry and weaken money laundering laws affecting Mexico’s banking sector.
Mr. Cuellar and his wife were released on bond and denied wrongdoing. Representative Hakeem Jeffries announced that Mr. Cuellar would take leave from his post as the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee while fighting the charges. The couple’s children, who were partial owners of the businesses used to launder the payments, were not charged.
The accusations cast doubt on the Democratic Party’s chances of holding the pivotal border district. Mr. Cuellar, a conservative Democrat, has been a reliable party vote but now faces allegations of criminal activity. The indictment also implicates Azerbaijani officials in corrupt dealings with Mr. Cuellar. Despite the charges, Mr. Cuellar vowed to continue his re-election campaign.
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