U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar Faces Federal Charges of Bribery and Foreign Influence, Colin Strothers Admits to Money Laundering
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, is facing federal charges, including bribery, money laundering, and working on behalf of a foreign government. He is the third lawmaker in Congress to be federally indicted this session. Cuellar stands accused of establishing fake shell companies with his wife, daughter, and staff to receive $600,000 in bribes from Mexico’s Banco Azteca and Azerbaijan’s state-run oil company. The Justice Department alleges Cuellar coordinated with Azerbaijani agents to obstruct legislation that opposed U.S. interests, violating the prohibition against Members of Congress working as foreign agents.
As the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing Homeland Security, Cuellar wielded significant influence in Congress. This made him a prime target for Azerbaijan, which sought to block legislation to finance landmine removal in a then-disputed region involving Armenia. If convicted, Cuellar could face decades in prison, but he maintains his innocence.
Cuellar Speaks Out On Federal Charges
Cuellar has held his congressional seat since 2005 and is a long-standing figure in South Texas politics. He quickly asserted his innocence, stating that his actions were consistent with his colleagues and aligned with the interests of the American people. “I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations,” Cuellar said. But, then came Colin Strother.
Colin Strother Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges
Colin Strother, a seasoned now disgraced advisor deeply embedded in Texas politics and a long-term strategist for Cuellar, finds himself embroiled in a bribery scandal himself, having admitted to charges of money laundering. Presently, Strother is cooperating with prosecutors, offering crucial evidence against Cuellar and his wife in a bid to mitigate his own legal repercussions.
For many years, Strother has been a key consultant to various local San Antonio and Texas figures, often addressing concerns that were historically overlooked. He also has counseled Roland Gutierrez for an extended period of time. As of March 2023, one year before being charged, Strother received a $3,000 payment from Gutierrez. Financial and ethical questions also emerged in this relationship, highlighted by allegations that Gutierrez channeled funds, via Zelle, per transaction receipts, to ‘Alexis,’ an adult entertainer.
With two decades of purportedly corrupt dealings under Cuellar behind him, Strother is expected to provide detailed disclosures that might not only secure a more lenient sentence for himself but also expose longstanding misconduct among other local officials in San Antonio and its environs. Strother’s faces up to 20 years in prison and a six-figure fine for charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering. A pattern is emerging that will soon reveal the full picture of many skeptical individuals.
Luckily, there is still such a thing as a genuine politician, and despite these challenges, many remain dedicated to public service, drawn to the profession by noble intentions and eventually doing well for the community and society. Their unwavering commitment to ethical governance serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that true leadership may still be possible in today’s political climate.
