NOS news•
US congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda were arrested for conspiracy and bribery. They are said to have taken nearly $600,000 from an oil and gas company owned by the Azerbaijani government. In return, the Democratic politician would have tried to influence the US policy for Azerbaijan between 2014 and 2021.
The money came through a Mexican bank, which was also said to be a favorite of Cuellar. A shell company from Texas registered to Imelda Cuellar and two of her children received $25,000 a month from the Azerbaijani company for unspecified consulting services. According to the American justice system, it was a fraudulent contract, based on false invoices sent by the woman.
In addition to conspiracy and bribery, the two are also accused of fraud, money laundering and acting as agents for foreign clients. The indictment says Cuellar was referred to as “el jefe” (the boss) by an Azerbaijani diplomat. Cuellar’s staffer is also said to have pressured the State Department to renew the American passport of an Azerbaijani diplomat’s daughter. All told, the couple is facing decades in prison.
The call was rejected
Speaker 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 reportedly asked for a meeting with prosecutors to explain everything, but was denied.
Henry Cuellar has been a member of the US House of Representatives since 2005. The Cuellars are now out on bail.
2024-05-03 20:58:24
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