Current:Home > NewsTradeEdge Exchange:US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas denies wrongdoing amid reports of pending indictment -FinanceAcademy
TradeEdge Exchange:US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas denies wrongdoing amid reports of pending indictment
Indexbit View
Date:2025-04-09 12:27:35
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas denied any wrongdoing amid reports of pending indictments related to the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.
The TradeEdge Exchangelongtime congressman released a statement Friday saying he and his wife “are innocent of these allegations.”
“Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas,” Cuellar said. “Before I took action, I proactively sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee, who gave me more than one written opinion, along with an additional opinion from a national law firm.
“Furthermore, we requested a meeting with the Washington D.C. prosecutors to explain the facts and they refused to discuss the case with us or hear our side.”
Neither Cuellar nor his attorney immediately responded to calls seeking comment on the matter. Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately confirm the indictments.
NBC News, CNN and Fox News, all citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported Friday the Justice Department was expected to announce Cuellar’s indictment.
Cuellar was at one time the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
The FBI searched the congressman’s house in the border city of Laredo in 2022, and Cuellar’s attorney at that time said Cuellar was not the target of that investigation. That search was part of a broader investigation related to Azerbaijan that saw FBI agents serve a raft of subpoenas and conduct interviews in Washington, D.C., and Texas, a person with direct knowledge of the probe previously told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Federal disclosures show that the nine-term congressman traveled to Azerbaijan in 2013. Two years later, Cuellar’s office announced an agreement between a Texas university and an organization called the Assembly of Friends of Azerbaijan for the purposes of collaborating on oil and gas research and education.
veryGood! (14946)
Related
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Big Cities Disrupt the Atmosphere, Often Generating More Rainfall, But Can Also Have a Drying Effect
- A remote tribe is reeling from widespread illness and cancer. What role did the US government play?
- Selena Gomez Says She Can't Carry Her Own Children Amid Health Journey
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- ‘Shogun’ wins 11 Emmys with more chances to come at Creative Arts Emmy Awards
- Kathy Bates announces retirement after 'Matlock' reboot: 'It's exhausting'
- The Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale Just Started: Score Rare 70% Off Deals Before They Sell Out
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Beyoncé shares another 'Cécred Sunday' video of her wash day hair routine
Ranking
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Congress takes up a series of bills targeting China, from drones to drugs
- Where is the next presidential debate being held? Inside historic venue
- A former NYC school food chief is sentenced to 2 years in a tainted chicken bribery case
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Police say a Russian ‘spy whale’ in Norway wasn’t shot to death
- Hilfiger goes full nautical for Fashion Week, with runway show on former Staten Island Ferry boat
- Bruce Springsteen talks 'Road Diary' and being a band boss: 'You're not alone'
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
MLB power rankings: Braves and Mets to sprint for playoff lives in NL wild card race
California's Line Fire grows due to high temperatures, forces evacuations: See map
Justin Fields hasn't sparked a Steelers QB controversy just yet – but stay tuned
The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
Why The Bear Star Will Poulter's Fitness Transformation Has Everyone Saying Yes, Chef
Here's every Super Bowl halftime performer by year as Kendrick Lamar is tapped for 2025
Texas is real No. 1? Notre Dame out of playoff? Five college football Week 2 overreactions