WASHINGTON — The Justice Department plans to announce an indictment Friday against longtime Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
Law enforcement said Cuellar’s home and campaign office in Laredo, Texas, were raided in January 2022 as part of a federal investigation into Azerbaijan and a group of U.S. businessmen with ties to the country. His office had promised to cooperate with the investigation. In April, Mr. Cuellar’s attorney, Joshua Berman, told some news outlets that federal authorities had notified him that he was not a target of the investigation.
Mr. Kueyar once served as co-chairman of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary group.
It was not immediately clear whether the charges are related to the 2022 raid. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Mr. Cuellar’s staff was calling other member firms on Friday seeking advice on how to handle the situation, one person familiar with the call told NBC News.
Cuéllar denied wrongdoing in a statement Friday, saying he had “actively sought legal advice” from the House Ethics Committee, which issued “multiple written opinions” on the matter. Many of his statements focused on his wife, Imelda Cuellar, but it wasn’t immediately clear why.
“I want to make it clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations. Everything I did in Congress was to serve the people of South Texas,” Cuellar said. “The actions I took in Congress were consistent with those of many of my colleagues and were in the interest of the American people,” he said in a statement, later adding, “The actions I took in Congress were consistent with those of many of my colleagues and were in the interest of the American people…”
“Imelda and I have been married for 32 years. In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, she is an accomplished businesswoman with two degrees. She has worked in banking, tax and consulting. “I’ve spent my career doing it,” he continued. “Her claim that she is neither qualified nor hardworking is wrong and offensive.”
A defiant Cuellar also vowed to seek re-election, saying, “Let me be clear: I am running for re-election and will win this November.”
A year after the attack on his home, with no arrests or charges made so far, Cuéllar told The Texas Tribune: …My focus has remained the same since my first day in office: delivering results for Texans across the district. ”
Despite the attack, Cuellar narrowly defeated progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros in the 2022 primary and was re-elected in November. He has had no opponent in the primary this year and will be on the ballot this November, seeking his 11th term in Congress.
Two years ago, Cuellar easily defeated Republican candidate Cathy Garcia, 57% to 43%. Taking parts of San Antonio after redistricting made his district bluer. But the latest indictment will leave Mr. Cuellar even more vulnerable than before. The two Republicans will face off in a runoff election in late May for a chance to challenge Mr. Cuellar in the fall.
Mr. Cuéllar, 66, is a lawyer and former customs broker and Texas secretary of state. Mr. Cuellar is a member of the centrist Blue Dogs and New Democratic Party coalition and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004.
He is the only Democrat left in Congress who opposes abortion rights, a position that has infuriated many within the party.
