Federal prosecutors on Friday charged Congressman Henry Cuellar with corruption and money laundering. The case is linked to a Mexican bank and a state-owned oil and gas company in Azerbaijan, US authorities said.
Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes to represent the interests of the bank and the company in question over a seven-year period until at least November 2021, the indictment said. “In exchange for the bribes from the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Cuellar agreed to use his position to influence US foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan,” the Justice Department said in a statement.
As for the Mexican bank, Henry Cuellar reportedly agreed to influence legislative activities and lobbied to obtain measures favorable to the bank.
Money laundering
According to the department, the amounts paid were laundered through shell companies owned by Cuellar’s wife, Imelda Cuellar, who is also charged. The couple appeared in court on Friday and were released on bail. In total, they face more than ten charges.
In a statement, Henry Cuellar denied committing any crimes with his wife and said he had always acted “in the best interests of the American people.”
