The Department of Justice announced that it has indicted U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his wife Imelda on bribery charges.Cuellar, Texas 28 Representativeth The indictment comes more than two years after Federal Bureau of Investigation agents filed a search warrant for Cuellar’s Laredo home.
Justice Department officials said that The lawmaker and his wife are accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani energy company. The Cuellars appeared before Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.
Prosecutors allege the couple received bribes from an energy company controlled by the Azerbaijani government and a bank in Mexico City. Payments were laundered through bogus consulting contracts. The lawmaker then exerted influence over energy companies, influenced U.S. foreign policy and pressured U.S. executive branch officials to benefit the banks’ interests, prosecutors said.
In January 2022, Cuellar’s home on Estate Drive in Laredo was raided by federal authorities. At the time of the raid, Breitbart Texas contacted Mr. Cuéllar’s office to confirm that a search warrant had been executed at the same address and that “Congressman Cuéllar will fully cooperate with any investigation.” added. He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld,” said Dana Jugentob, presidential spokeswoman for Cuellar.
According to Associated Press news report Immediately after the raid, Mr. Cuellar’s attorney, Joshua Berman, released a statement saying that, according to federal authorities, Cuellar was not a target of the investigation. Law enforcement officials said the 2022 raid on Kueyar’s residence was in connection with an ongoing federal investigation into fraud involving Azerbaijan and an American businessman with the country.
At the time of the attack, Kueyar was co-chairman of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary group. The oil-rich country is majority Muslim and has a history of corruption, according to the CIA World Factbook. The factbook explains the domestic issue as follows:
Since gaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has significantly reduced poverty rates and channeled some of the revenue from oil and gas production into developing the country’s infrastructure. But corruption remains a burden on the economy, with Western observers and domestic opposition members accusing the government of authoritarianism.
In a statement released Friday, Cuellar said he and his wife are innocent of any allegations that have surfaced in recent media reports and continue to deny any wrongdoing.
“I want to make it 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 in a statement. The lawmaker continues to seek re-election this November. In November, Cuellar will face the winner of the Republican primary runoff between Jay Furman and Lazaro Garza Jr. for the nomination.
According to the Department of Justice, the Cougers are charged with:
Five years in prison for each count of bribery of a federal official and two counts of conspiracy to induce a public official to act on behalf of a foreign school principal. Two counts of bribery of federal officials, each sentenced to 15 years in prison. Two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, 20 years in prison for each count. He was charged with two counts of violating the prohibition on public servants acting as agents of foreign school principals, and was sentenced to two years in prison for each count. One count of conspiracy to conceal money laundering, 20 years in prison. 5 counts of money laundering, 20 years in prison for each charge.
randy clark He is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Division Chief of Law Enforcement Operations and directed operations for nine Border Patrol stations within the Del Rio, Texas area. Follow him on Twitter @RandyClarkBBTX.
bob price He is an associate editor and senior news contributor on the Breitbart Texas Border Team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team.Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston What is your point? sunday morning talk show.he is also the president blue wonder cancer care products.
