(NewsWorthy.news) – A Democratic representative and his wife have claimed innocence amid a federal indictment that accuses them of bribery and conspiracy.
Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were charged on Friday May 3 in relation to their financial involvement with Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic. The 68-year-old lawmaker from the Lone Star State was joined by his wife in allegedly accepting almost $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani energy company as well as a Mexican bank.
Cuellar returned the favor by positively influencing the country’s interests along with those of the bank. The illicit bribes are said to have occurred between 2014 and 2021. One of his scrutinized actions was the agreement to push pro-Azerbaijan bills in the United States legislature—including giving a speech on the House floor that promoted the country.
According to the Department of Justice, which launched the probe into the couple, Cuellar and his wife did not resist authorities when taken into custody. Their first court appearance with a Houston federal judge resulted in each being released on a bond of $100,000.
Following Friday’s indictment, Cuellar released a statement saying he “want[s] to be clear” about asserting that “both” of them are “innocent of these allegations.” He explained that, prior to pursuing “any action” after his home and office were searched in 2022, the lawmaker “proactively sought legal advice” from the Ethics Committee in the House of Representatives.
He reportedly received multiple “written opinion[s]” from the committee and other legal sources. However, Cuellar added, his request to discuss the matter with prosecutors was “refused,” as was his attempt to have them “hear our side.”
Cuellar and his wife are facing charges related to wire fraud, posing as foreign agents, and money laundering. The punishment for the basket of crimes could be decades in prison as well as loss of property and profits made by the suspected conspiracy.
Originally, the payments were made to the couple through a shell company connected to the family and based in Texas. They were allegedly sent $25,000 a month under the suspected scheme.
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