Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) is insisting he is innocent after reports that the Justice Department may indict him as soon as Friday.
Cuellar said in a statement that he and his wife are innocent and “everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas.”
“Before I took any action, I proactively sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee, who gave me more than one written opinion, along with an additional opinion from a national law firm,” the Texas Democrat 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.”
“These allegations have been difficult on my family,” Cuellar continued. “But, with your prayers, we will overcome.”
Cuellar noted that he is still running for re-election in November and “will win.”
NBC News reported on Friday morning that the DOJ was preparing to indict Cuellar. According to the outlet, his staff were calling other member offices on Friday seeking advice on how to handle the situation.
Allegations against Cuellar began circulating in 2022, when Cuellar’s home and campaign office in Laredo, Texas, were raided in January that year as part of the DOJ’s investigation into Azerbaijan and businessmen connected to the nation. It is unclear if Friday’s possible indictment is related to the 2022 raid. In April of that year, Cuellar’s lawyer told several news outlets that the congressman was informed he was not the target of the investigation.
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Cuellar is facing a tough reelection cycle this year after narrowly defeating a progressive challenger in 2022. This year, two Republican candidates face each other in a runoff election on May 28 for the opportunity to race against Cuellar in November. Though his seat is rated “likely Democratic” by Cook Political Report, an indictment could slim his reelection chances.
A member of the House’s centrist Blue Dogs and New Democrat Coalitions, Cuellar came to Congress in 2004. He is the sole House Democrat who opposes abortion rights, a flashpoint for several members of his own party.