Cuellar has big problems

By Gregg Wendorf
Advance News Journal

At first, for what it’s worth, I had my doubts that U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar was guilty of the bribery crimes for which he stands accused. I mean, the guy’s my age, 68, has two Cadillac pensions, both state and federal, so why risk 204 years in prison?

Then I started reading everything I could this week about his case, the indictment, and let’s just say, I’m glad I’m not him.

If convicted, or if he cops to a plea, along with his wife, Imelda, what a way to end a career. And he already had it made before he and his wife allegedly hopped into bed with bank and government interests from both Mexico and Azerbaijani, working to advance their respective agendas.

Compared to the 6,000-square-foot house, with pool and cabana, they share in Laredo, along with a penthouse apartment in D.C., I’d rather live in a tent by the side of a lake with only one set of clothes and a dog. That’s how much I value freedom.

Like Kris Kristofferson sang in “Bobby McGee:” “Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’, but it’s free.”

Exactly how much trouble is the long-standing congressman in? Just take a gander at a recent DOJ press release:

“According to court documents, beginning in at least December 2014 and continuing through at least November 2021, Congressman Cuellar and 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. The 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.”

Cuellar has been in Congress for almost 20 years, and in the Texas Legislature from 1987 to 2001.

In his defense, Cuellar said that before doing any of the things for which he stands accused, he sought advice from the House Ethics Committee (an oxymoron in the minds of many) and a national law firm. (Maybe the same one advising Hunter Biden, who knows.)

Cuellar is only the second sitting member of Congress to have ever been charged with acting as a foreign agent. The other being Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat. The others just weren’t caught. Allegedly.

Money, Money, Money

According to the fed indictment, some of the money the Cuellars allegedly collected was spent to pay off $58K in credit card payments and other debts, which included, allegedly, a custom gown worn by Mrs. C that cost $12,000.

Meanwhile, one of Cuellar’s brothers, Martin, is the Webb County sheriff, while one of his sisters, Rosie, a former Webb County municipal judge, is now running for the Texas State Senate.

His campaign filings over the years raises the question that many of us have asked time and again when it comes to the world of politics: why would anyone spend wads of money running for an office that only pays $174,000 per year?

For example, in 2013, Cuellar disclosed that he had taken on debts totaling as much as $1.15 million. (Source: NY Times.)

Meanwhile, along the campaign trail, which he has to hit every two years, Henry Cuellar would never quit talking about his hard-scrabble upbringing. Dad made as little as $300 a month while working as a gardener, often asking his kids to help out.

Other kids watched cartoons on Saturday, while we worked, Henry was often fond of saying.

One thing about him, though, he’s not known as a slouch. He’s earned a master’s degree in international trade from Texas A&M, a law degree from UT-Austin, and a Ph.D from the same university.

Now, two of his former closest aides have already said they are willing to cooperate with federal prosecutors, and no doubt, they know where the (alleged) skeletons are all buried.

Cuellar’s still innocent until proven guilty, and he’s still running for reelection in the November general election, but it’s not looking good. At least not based on the charges laid out in the indictment.

In a story published May 9 by the Texas Tribune, Henry Cuellar did say one thing in a public statement that sounds legit: his actions were consistent with the actions of many of his colleagues ….

Sadly, that rings true, in the minds of many.

Term limits anyone? Not at the state level so much, but certainly at the federal level.