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2025-08-10 Government Corruption
Corrupt Democrat Rep. Caught Taking Bribe
[THEGATEWAYPUNDIT]In 2013, U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife took a seemingly routine trip to Turkey and Azerbaijan, funded by an obscure Houston-based nonprofit.

The Cuellars allegedly funneled money through front companies, spent it on luxury items such as a $12,000 gown and restaurant bills, and concealed the transactions through intermediaries.

One of those intermediaries, Florencio “Lencho” Rendon, a longtime associate of Cuellar, has already pleaded guilty to money laundering. So has Colin Strother, Cuellar’s former chief of staff and campaign manager, who prosecutors say funneled monthly payments to Cuellar’s wife.
What followed, federal prosecutors now allege, was a years-long scheme involving foreign influence, money laundering, and one of the most serious indictments ever brought against a sitting member of Congress.

According to a federal indictment unsealed last week, Cuellar and his wife accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company, SOCAR, and Mexico’s Banco Azteca.

Prosecutors allege that Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, Texas, used his office to advance the interests of these entities in exchange for payments disguised as consulting fees to shell companies owned by his wife.

The indictment accuses Cuellar of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government—a rare charge previously brought against Sen. Bob Menendez in 2023 for working on behalf of Egypt.

The Cuellars allegedly funneled money through front companies, spent it on luxury items such as a $12,000 gown and restaurant bills, and concealed the transactions through intermediaries.

One of those intermediaries, Florencio “Lencho” Rendon, a longtime associate of Cuellar, has already pleaded guilty to money laundering. So has Colin Strother, Cuellar’s former chief of staff and campaign manager, who prosecutors say funneled monthly payments to Cuellar’s wife.

Prosecutors claim the payments began in 2014, shortly after Cuellar’s trip to Azerbaijan. In text messages and emails, Cuellar allegedly communicated directly with Elin Suleymanov, then Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the U.S., discussing contracts, payments, and legislation favorable to the country.

Posted by Fred 2025-08-10 02:18|| || Front Page|| [229 views ]  Top

#1 
Confiscate all assets, then slap a 10 year sentence on each, for each illegal action. PLUS MEGA $$ Fine or restrict the offending country and / or business.
Posted by NN2N1 2025-08-10 05:24||   2025-08-10 05:24|| Front Page Top

#2 Sadly this merely qualifies them for a Senate run.
Posted by Airandee 2025-08-10 05:33||   2025-08-10 05:33|| Front Page Top

#3 "Corrupt Democrat" isn't that redundant?
Posted by Spetch Javiling4512 2025-08-10 08:52||   2025-08-10 08:52|| Front Page Top

#4 "Corrupt Democrat" isn't that redundant?

(sorry)
Posted by alanc 2025-08-10 08:53||   2025-08-10 08:53|| Front Page Top

#5 Corrupt Democrat

Department of Redundancy Department Alert!
Posted by Mercutio 2025-08-10 08:55||   2025-08-10 08:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Can I make a suggestion Stupidly Corrupt Democrat?
Posted by Grom the Affective 2025-08-10 09:27||   2025-08-10 09:27|| Front Page Top

#7 The president of Azerbaijan was in the White House for a treaty signing. You wonder what Trump and America gets out of these negotiations. Now you know.
Posted by Super Hose 2025-08-10 09:54||   2025-08-10 09:54|| Front Page Top

#8 He did it wrong. They're supposed to send the money to PACs and the PACs give it as campaign contributions. He then launders the money through his campaign and gets the money kicked back.
Amateur.
Posted by Elmomoter Mussolini9149 2025-08-10 10:53||   2025-08-10 10:53|| Front Page Top

#9 He'll plead innocent by reason that its part of his culture.
Posted by Procopius2k 2025-08-10 11:42||   2025-08-10 11:42|| Front Page Top

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