Things are going from bad to worse for Rep. Cuellar…
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) who is facing federal bribery charges.
An investigative subcommittee will look into whether Cuellar “solicited or accepted bribes, gratuities, or improper gifts; acted as a foreign agent; violated federal money laundering laws; misused his official position for private gain; and/or made false statements or omissions on public disclosure statements filed with the House,” a press release said.
Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) will serve as chair of the investigative subcommittee while Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) will serve as ranking member. Reps. Ben Cline (R-Va.) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) will also serve on the subcommittee.
Read the entire press release below:
In May, the Justice Department unsealed the indictment against the Texas congressman along with his wife, Imelda Cuellar, for allegedly participating in two schemes involving bribery, unlawful foreign influence and money laundering.
The panel said members of the House Ethics Committee voted unanimously to establish the investigative subcommittee.
The committee said that it is “aware of the risks associated with dual investigations and is in communication with the Department of Justice to mitigate the potential risks while still meeting the Committee's obligations to safeguard the integrity of the House.”
In concluding its statement, the House Ethics Committee said, “No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”
Cuellar allegedly accepted $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities – an energy company controlled by Azerbaijan and a bank headquartered in Mexico City – in exchange for official acts as a member of Congress, the DOJ said.
Three people connected to the criminal investigation against Cuellar have already pled guilty for allegedly accepting bribes from foreign entities. (RELATED: Report: 3 People Plead Guilty In Corruption Case Against House Democrat)
According to The Daily Wire, two of Cuellar's political consultants – former aide Colin Strother and Florencia Roden – struck plea deals earlier this year on felony money laundering charges related to the bank in Mexico. A third person, Irada Akhoundova, pled guilty earlier this month to acting as an agent for Azerbaijan without registering under Foreign Agents Registration Act.
In response to the indictment, Cuellar said he and his wife were “innocent of these allegations.” Cuellar also said he “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.
Despite the charges against him Cuellar has refused to step down from Congress.
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