Texas Democrat Rep. Cuellar, wife indicted on bribery charges related ties to Azerbaijan

Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were indicted Friday on conspiracy and bribery charges, reportedly in connection with a Justice Department probe into ties between U.S. business leaders and the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.

The possibility of an indictment has known for years.

From 2014 to 2021, Cuellar and his wife accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico, according to the Associated Press. In exchange, the Texas congressman allegedly agreed to advance the interests of the country and the bank in the U.S., according to the indictments reviewed by the wire service.

The indictment also alleges Cuellar agreed to influence legislation favorable to Azerbaijan and deliver a pro-Azerbaijan speech on the House floor of the U.S. House,

Cueller said in statement Friday that he and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, “are innocent of these allegations.”