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May 5, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar has been indicted on bribery and money laundering charges.
The Department of Justice’s announcement follows a January 2022 raid on his home and campaign office in Laredo.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice:
Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda Cuellar allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. Bribe payments were allegedly laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, who performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts.
In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank.
Notably, Cuellar has previously served as the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus. If convicted, Cuellar could be sentenced to decades in prison.
Before the indictment was unsealed on Friday, Cuellar denied any wrongdoing:
I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations. Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas. Before I took any 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. The actions I took in Congress were consistent with the actions of many of my colleagues and in the interest of the American people. Furthermore, we requested a meeting with the Washington DC prosecutors to explain the facts, and they refused to discuss the case with us or to hear our side.
Cuellar, who has served in Congress since 2005, said the indictment would not affect his plans for re-election.
“Let me be clear, I’m running for re-election and will win this November,” said Cuellar.
Cuellar is being challenged by Republican candidate Jay Furman in the November election.
Featured
AUSTIN—City Council Members have approved a resolution making the state’s capital a sanctuary for gender-mutilation procedures and chemical castration, though the actual effect of the move may be limited.
The resolution was sent to the council by the city’s LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission. It states that the policy of the city will be that no city personnel, funds, or resources will be used to investigate, criminally prosecute, or impose administrative penalties on gender-confused individuals seeking gender-mutilative procedures or an individual or organization attempting to assist the individual to receive the procedures.
Even before the council meeting began, activists showed up outside city hall to voice their opposition.
State
Florida Banned Lab-grown Meat—Will Texas?
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is advising Texas lawmakers to follow Florida’s lead.
Dade Phelan’s Democrat Donor at Center of Case Stripping AG’s Election Fraud Enforcement
Legislation to return the power to the Attorney General’s office was never given a vote.
New Poll Shows Trump, Cruz Leading Their Democrat Opponents
The poll shows Trump up by eight percentage points and Cruz up by 13 points.
Local
UT-Austin ‘Protesters’ Clash with Police
The university’s leadership says they received “extensive online threats” over the weekend.
Ex-Tyler ISD Teacher’s Aide Accused of ‘Improper’ Relationship with Students
JBraylon Fears was booked into the Smith County jail on four charges.
Harris County Jail Reprimanded by State
The jail has failed to meet the minimum staffing standard of one detention officer for every 48 inmates.
Federal
Thousands of Illegal Aliens Flown into Texas Airports
More than 10,000 illegal aliens have been flown directly into Texas by the Biden administration.
US Rep. Pfluger Preparing Measure to Strip Federal Education Funding From Convicted Rioters
The measure specifically targets the Federal Student Aid of those who have attacked police in the ongoing anti-Israel demonstrations.
US Supreme Court Denies Porn Industry Efforts to Block Age Verification Laws
The Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal from an association representing porn companies.
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