Texas Rep. Cuellar and wife INDICTED following allegations they received BRIBES from Azerbaijan

05/07/2024 / By Laura Harris

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has finally released an indictment against long-time Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, for alleged bribery and money laundering.

According to the indictment, the Cuellars accepted roughly $600,000 in bribes from a bank in Mexico and an oil and gas company linked to Azerbaijan in exchange for the congressman performing official acts from 2014 to 2021. These bribe payments were allegedly laundered through sham consulting contracts and a network of intermediary companies, with Imelda’s shell companies serving as conduits.

Cuellar previously served as a co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus. In exchange for the bribes, Cuellar allegedly committed to influencing legislation concerning Azerbaijan’s conflict with Armenia, inserting favorable language for Azerbaijan into security and economic aid programs, delivering a supportive speech on the House floor and providing consultation to Azerbaijani officials regarding their lobbying efforts in the U.S. government. (Related: Armenia and Azerbaijan on the brink of a FULL-SCALE WAR following alleged provocations.)

“In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan,” the DOJ said. “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.”

In turn, the Cuellars are 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 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.

If found guilty, they could spend years or even decades in prison. But for the meantime, Cuellar will step aside from his position as the top Democrat in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

Cuellar vehemently denies bribery and money laundering accusations

Cuellar has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, even before the charges against him were publicized. He also stressed his wife’s professional qualifications and denounced the allegations against her as baseless attacks on her character.

“I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations. Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas,” Cuellar said. “The actions I took in Congress were consistent with the actions of many of my colleagues and in the interest of the American people.”

“Imelda and I have been married for 32 years. On top of being an amazing wife and mother, she’s an accomplished businesswoman with two degrees,” Cuellar continued. “She spent her career working with banking, tax and consulting. The allegation that she is anything but qualified and hardworking is both wrong and offensive.”

Cuellar’s defense attorneys echoed similar sentiments but also underscored that the timing of the incident occurred just six months before the upcoming November election.

“The government’s decision to move forward with charges so close to the general election – and their decision to execute a search warrant 40 days before his [2022] primary – undermines the electorate and puts a thumb on the scale,” said attorneys Chris Flood and Eric Reed.

But despite the legal cloud hanging over him, Cuellar remains resolute in seeking reelection in the upcoming election. “Let me be clear: I’m running for re-election and will win this November,” Cuellar boasted.

More of the latest news about the blatant political corruption in the U.S. government can be found at Corruption.news.

Watch this clip of refugees from the Armenian enclave of Artsakh discussing the war crimes Azerbaijani soldiers have committed against them.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.