Staff Reports
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) found himself in the spotlight last Friday as the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted him on federal bribery charges. The allegations are grave, claiming that Cuellar and his spouse accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from a state-owned oil and gas entity in Azerbaijan and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The indictment further asserts that, in exchange for these payments, Cuellar leveraged his position to advocate for the interests of both Azerbaijan and the Mexican bank within the United States. It also implies that their alleged scheme involved illicit foreign influence and money laundering through what the indictment terms as "sham consulting contracts."
Despite the weight of the charges, Cuellar maintains his innocence and asserts that he will not step down from his congressional seat. This stance has drawn comparisons to the case of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who was expelled from Congress in December following federal charges and a damning report from the House Ethics Committee. Notably, Santos has yet to be proven guilty. However, while Democratic leaders largely stand by Cuellar, Republican leaders have shown minimal interest in the case. The National Republican Congressional Committee has issued a challenge to Democrats to demand Cuellar's resignation, yet only one Democrat, retiring Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), has answered that call.
Indicted Henry Cuellar Insists He's Not Resigning
https://t.co/ZSQPqy8dsa— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 8, 2024
The indictment has not only cast a shadow over Cuellar's political career but has also impacted his prospects for reelection. Cook Political Report has downgraded the race for Texas' 28th Congressional District from "Likely Democrat" to "Lean Democrat" following the indictment. Despite these obstacles, Cuellar remains adamant about his chances for reelection, signaling a potentially contentious political battle ahead.
