Two Democratic political consultants have admitted to charges related to a large-scale bribery and money laundering operation involving a foreign government. The case centers around U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from South Texas, who, along with his wife, Imelda Cuellar, is accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from Azerbaijan and Banco Azteca, a commercial bank in Mexico. Cuellar faces charges of bribery, money laundering, and collaborating with a foreign government.
According to the indictment, Cuellar accepted bribe money from the bank in exchange for influencing U.S. Treasury Department policies to benefit the Mexican bank and undermine anti-money laundering efforts. Cuellar allegedly enlisted his former campaign manager, Colin Strother, and consultant Florencio “Lencho” Rendon to facilitate these payments.
The indictment also claims that the Cuellars were involved in a similar scheme with Azerbaijan’s state-run oil and gas company. These bribes were supposedly funneled through fake consulting contracts with shell companies controlled by Imelda Cuellar. In return for the payments, Rep. Cuellar is said to have advocated for U.S. foreign policy favorable to Azerbaijan.
Despite these serious charges, Cuellar won re-election to Texas’s 28th District in December 2024, despite the ongoing legal case. Cuellar has consistently denied the allegations and maintains his innocence. His trial is now scheduled to begin in September.
A recent Department of Justice press release detailed the charges against Cuellar and his wife, stating that the couple had allegedly accepted over $600,000 in bribes between 2014 and 2021. The bribes, which came from Azerbaijan’s oil and gas company and the Mexican bank, were allegedly funneled through fake consulting contracts and shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar.
In exchange for the bribes, Cuellar is accused of using his position to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan and pressuring U.S. officials to take actions beneficial to the Mexican bank. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing, claiming his actions were consistent with the interests of the American people, and insisted that he had sought legal guidance before taking any actions.
