Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, were indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges in connection with their ties to the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. The indictment alleges that from 2014 to 2021, the couple accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. In exchange for these payments, Cuellar agreed to advance the interests of the country and the bank in the U.S., including influencing legislation and delivering a pro-Azerbaijan speech in the U.S. House. The Department of Justice said the couple surrendered to authorities and were taken into custody, but were later released on $100,000 bond each.
Cuellar released a statement asserting his innocence, claiming that all his actions in Congress were meant to serve the people of South Texas. He stated that he sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee and a national law firm before taking any action, and attempted to meet with prosecutors to present their side of the story but were refused. The couple face charges including bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, acting as agents of foreign principals, and money laundering. If convicted, they could face decades in prison and forfeiture of any property linked to the alleged scheme.
The payments to the couple were made through a Texas-based shell company owned by Imelda Cuellar and two of their children, according to the indictment. The company received monthly payments of $25,000 from the Azerbaijan energy company under a “sham contract” for consulting services. It is alleged that the contract was used to disguise the corrupt agreement between Cuellar and the government of Azerbaijan. The indictment also mentioned text messages where an Azerbaijani diplomat referred to Cuellar as “el Jefe” (boss), as well as emails from Cuellar’s staff pressuring officials to renew a U.S. passport for an Azerbaijani diplomat’s daughter. Cuellar was previously the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
The FBI searched Cuellar’s house in Laredo in 2022 as part of a broader investigation related to Azerbaijan. The search was not targeted at Cuellar, according to his attorney at the time. The investigation included serving subpoenas and conducting interviews in Washington, D.C., and Texas. Cuellar narrowly defeated progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros in a primary race in 2022. Cuellar, known as one of the last anti-abortion Democrats in Congress, has faced scrutiny for his ties to Azerbaijan and the alleged bribery scheme involving his wife. The case is ongoing, and Cuellar maintains his innocence in the face of the charges.
Overall, the indictment paints a picture of a long-standing bribery scheme involving Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, allegedly receiving payments from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a Mexican bank in exchange for advancing their interests in the U.S. Cuellar maintains his innocence and claims that he sought legal advice before taking any action. The couple faces various charges, including bribery and conspiracy, and could potentially face prison time and property forfeiture if convicted. The investigation into their ties to Azerbaijan and the alleged bribery scheme has been ongoing, with the FBI conducting searches and interviews in multiple locations. The case continues to unfold as Cuellar faces legal challenges and scrutiny over his involvement in the alleged corrupt activities.
