The Justice Department is expected to indict Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, on Friday, according to unnamed sources cited by multiple outlets shortly before Cuellar seemed to confirm the charges were forthcoming in a statement declaring his innocence.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, leaves the House Democrats' caucus meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday, ... [+]
The reported forthcoming indictment comes more than two years after federal authorities raided Cuellar’s campaign office and home in Laredo, Texas, as part of an investigation into businessmen with ties to Azerbaijan.
Cuellar denied any wrongdoing in a statement Friday declaring “I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations.”
At the time of the raid, Cuellar was the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
It’s unclear what charges he could face, but he was concerned enough about some congressional actions he took that he sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee and a national law firm, he said in the statement, without explaining what those actions were and adding that they “were consistent with the actions of many of my colleagues and in the interest of the American people.”
Cuellar’s wife also faces accusations, according to his statement, which details her education and career in “banking, tax, and consulting” and adds “the allegation that she is anything but qualified and hard working is both wrong and offensive.”
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Cuellar, who is up for reelection in November, said in the statement he has no plans to end his campaign. He won his election for a 10th term in 2022, beating his Republican opponent 57% to 43%. He will face the winner of the May Republican primary in November.
The raid has not led to any arrests or charges so far, and it’s unclear whether Friday’s indictment is linked to the DOJ’s Azerbaijan investigation. Shortly after the raid, Cuellar told The Texas Tribune he was confident the investigation would prove his innocence. Cuellar has made multiple visits to Azerbaijan, including one lavish trip with nine other lawmakers in 2013 that was secretly funded by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Washington Post reported, citing a confidential congressional ethics report.
FBI raid prompts new scrutiny of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s ties to Azerbaijan (Texas Tribune)
DOJ expected to announce indictment of Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, sources say (NBC)
10 members of Congress took trip secretly funded by foreign government (Washington Post)