Democrat Congressman Indicted By DOJ

According to NBC News, the Justice Department has brought charges against a Democratic congressman from Texas.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), a member of Congress since 2005, was indicted following a federal investigation that began around two years ago when his official and campaign premises were searched by authorities looking into ties with U.S. individuals linked to Azerbaijan.

Cuellar and his spouse are accused of accepting $600,000 in bribes from Azerbaijan in exchange for legislative actions as a Congressman.

Despite earlier assertions from Joshua Berman, Cuellar’s attorney, stating that his client was not under investigation, the charges have now been filed.

Cuellar is also known for co-chairing the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.

Reports suggest that his staff contacted various Washington offices on Friday morning seeking guidance on how to address the unfolding situation.

In an interview with the Texas Tribune, Rep. Cuellar reflected on the events that transpired one year after the January 2022 raid.

Rep. Cuellar said that “There has been no wrongdoing on my part. … My focus remains the same from my very first day in office: delivering results for Texans across my district.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who was leading the midterm election strategy for House Democrats, offered her support to him.

“I support my incumbents,” Pelosi said during a visit to Austin in March of 2022. “I support every one of them, from right to left. That is what I do.”

Cuellar narrowly escaped a primary loss to a challenger with more progressive views and successfully fended off a Republican opponent in the general election.

Representing areas of San Antonio after redistricting, Cuellar now finds himself in a more Democratic-leaning district but could face increased vulnerability in the upcoming elections.

With two Republican contenders vying for the opportunity to challenge him in November, the 66-year-old attorney, a former customs broker and Texas Secretary of State, has been a member of the moderate Blue Dog Democrat caucus since his initial election victory in 2004.

The second indictment of a Democratic official adds to the challenges facing a party grappling with an unpopular president and growing progressive discontent nationwide. Cuellar becomes the second active Democrat to be accused of wrongdoing.

Earlier in September, federal officials charged U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) with leveraging his influence on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit his political associates.

During a search of his residence, authorities discovered gold bars and a substantial amount of cash concealed in various hiding spots.

Menendez defended himself by stating that he had always kept emergency assets due to his upbringing in communist Cuba.