Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) is the first Democrat to ask Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) to step down due to the recent Justice Department (DOJ) indictment against him and his wife.
“Although it's difficult to get indicted by the Federal government, people's trust in our government is low,” Phillips stated in a post on X. “That’s why officials and candidates facing indictment should resign or suspend their campaigns, including Sen. Bob Menendez, Donald Trump, & Rep. Henry Cuellar.”
Cuellar and his wife were indicted with allegations of receiving nearly $600,000 in bribes and funneling money. The DOJ's 14-count indictment details Cuellar allegedly accepting payments from a government-owned oil company in Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. Both Cuellar and his wife Imelda pleaded not guilty and were released on $100,000 bond.
“In return for the bribes from the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his position to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan,” the DOJ stated in a press release.
“In return for the bribes from 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.”
Cuellar is the second member of Congress to face indictment, following Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.). The New Jersey senator’s indictment from the DOJ on bribery charges came last year. More than a dozen Democrats in the upper chamber have called for the senator's resignation.
Cuellar maintains that he and his wife are innocent.
“Before taking any action, I sought legal advice from the House Ethics Committee, which provided me with multiple written opinions, as well as an additional opinion from a national law firm,” Cuellar stated in a pre-indictment release.
“My actions in Congress were similar to those of many of my colleagues and were in the best interest of the American people.”
The Texas legislator stated his intention to seek reelection in November.
The Hill has reached out to Cuellar’s office for comment.
