Democratic Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were indicted on Friday on federal charges of bribery and corruption, the United States Department of Justice confirmed. Prosecutors allege that the couple have accepted payments from foreign entities, including a government-controlled energy company in Azerbaijan and a bank headquartered in Mexico City.
According to a statement from DOJ officials, Henry and Imelda Cuellar are suspected of receiving more than $600,000 between 2014 and 2021 in exchange for “influencing US foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan” and advancing the interest of the Mexican bank in the US.
“Cuellar promised to use the power and prestige of his office to advance Azerbaijan’s and Foreign Bank-1’s interests in the United States,” the DOJ said. “The bribe payments were laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar. Cuellar performed little or no legitimate work under the sham contracts.”
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
In January 2022, the Cuellar residence in Laredo, Texas was raided by the FBI pursuant to the investigation into this matter.
The Cuellars were each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official and to have a public official act as an agent of a foreign principal; two counts of bribery of a federal official, two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, two counts of violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, and five counts of money laundering.
Following the indictment, they were released on bond. If convicted, they face up to 24 years in prison.
Related: Rep. Henry Cuellar Carjacked at Gunpoint in Washington, DC
“I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations,” wrote Cuellar after his release. “Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of Texas.”
“Imelda and I have been married 32 years. On top of being an amazing wife and mother, she’s an accomplished businesswoman with two degrees. She spent her career working with banking, tax, and consulting. The allegation that she is anything but qualified and hard working is both wrong and offensive,” he continued.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
Add comment