WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife were indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges and taken into custody Friday in connection with a U.S. Department of Justice probe into the couple’s ties to the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.
From 2014 to 2021, Cuellar, 68, and his wife accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico, and in exchange, Cuellar agreed to advance the interests of the country and the bank in the U.S., according to the indictment.
Among other things, Cuellar agreed to influence legislation favorable to Azerbaijan and deliver a pro-Azerbaijan speech on the floor of the U.S. House, the indictment states.
The Department of Justice said the couple surrendered to authorities on Friday and were taken into custody. They made an initial appearance before a federal judge in Houston and were each released on $100,000 bond, the DOJ said.
Love Island fans brand show 'a joke' for lack of diversity
Arkansas panel bans electronic signatures on voter registration forms
Judge orders preventative detention for Iranian and 2 Peruvians in thwarted plot to kill Israelis
Stacey Solomon reveals she's 'giving up her showbiz career to become a stay
Venezuelan boxer Francisco 'Morochito' Rodríguez dies at 78
Tesla driver in deadly Seattle
Massachusetts House launches budget debate, including proposed spending on shelters, public transit
Teenagers say Rishi Sunak's National Service plan is a winner