"Cuellar's legal controversy began in 2022, during the Biden administration, when the FBI raided his home and office as part of a federal probe investigating the diplomatic practices of Azerbaijan. Cuellar and his wife were indicted by the Department of Justice in 2024 on 12 counts of bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering centering the congressman's alleged acceptance of nearly $600,000 in bribes from the Central Asian county and a Mexican commercial bank."
"The indictment alleged that the money was laundered through shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, and that the congressman subsequently pushed policy benefitting Azerbaijani interests. For his part, Cuellar expressed extreme gratitude for the president's latest adventure in clemency. And he demonstrated that time has not dimmed his audacity. Now that he will not be standing trial for his truckload of corruption charges, it's time to get back in the game."
President Donald Trump granted pardons to Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, terminating a multi-year federal legal battle. The couple faced a 2024 indictment with 12 counts of bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering tied to alleged acceptance of nearly $600,000 in bribes from Azerbaijani interests and a Mexican commercial bank. The investigation began after 2022 FBI raids probing diplomatic practices involving Azerbaijan and alleged use of shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar to launder funds. The pardon was announced on social media, framed by claims the Department of Justice had been weaponized, and Cuellar expressed gratitude and plans to return to political activity.
Read at www.esquire.com
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