US Congressman and his wife charged with conspiracy and bribery

NOS News•today, 10:58 PM

US Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda have been arrested for conspiracy and bribery. They allegedly accepted almost $600,000 from an oil and gas company owned by the Azerbaijani government. In return, the Democratic politician is said to have tried to influence US policy in favor of Azerbaijan between 2014 and 2021.

The money came through a Mexican bank, which was also allegedly favored by Cuellar. A Texas shell company registered to Imelda Cuellar and two of their children received $25,000 a month from the Azerbaijani company for unspecified consulting services. According to the American justice system, it was a fake contract, based on fake invoices that the woman sent.

In addition to conspiracy and bribery, the two are also charged with fraud, money laundering and acting as agents of foreign clients. The indictment states that Cuellar was called “el jefe” (the boss) by an Azerbaijani diplomat. A Cuellar staffer is also said to have pressured the State Department to renew the American passport of the daughter of an Azerbaijani diplomat. All told, the couple faces decades in prison.

Congressman Cuellar, a Texas state representative and one of the most conservative Democrats, has declared that he and his wife are innocent. He says he sought legal advice from the House of Representatives ethics committee before taking any action. He would also have requested a meeting with the prosecutors to explain everything, but that would have been refused.

Henry Cuellar has been a member of the US House of Representatives since 2005. The Cuellars have now been released on bail.