Trump defends indicted Democrat Texas congressman: Trump claims FBI was ordered to 'take out' Henry Cuellar because he was tough on border security
- Cuellar has been a pro-life and pro-border security Democrat
Former President Donald Trump has issued a defense of Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar after he and his wife were indicted.
Cuellar, who has been in office since 2005, is a pro-life and pro-border security Democrat.
'Biden just Indicted Henry Cuellar because the Respected Democrat Congressman wouldn’t play Crooked Joe’s Open Border game,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'He was for Border Control, so they said, “Let’s use the FBI and DOJ to take him out!” This is the way they operate. They’re a bunch of D.C. Thugs.'
The pair were released on $100,000 bond on Friday. If convicted, they could each spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
Cuellar is the third member of Congress to be indicted this congressional term, following Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.
Santos was ousted in December but Menendez remains in the Senate, though he no longer serves as Foreign Relations chairman.
Trump has issued a defense of Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar after he and his wife were indicted
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to call on Cuellar to resign.
Cuellar is “'entitled to his day in court and the presumption of innocence throughout the legal process,' said Jeffries.'
The couple faces up to 204 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
The Texas Democrat's home was raided by the FBI in January 2022 in hopes of tilting the upcoming primary election against him.
Cuellar insisted he and his wife were innocent in response to the news.
'I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations.'
'The actions I took in Congress were consistent with the actions of many of my colleagues and in the interest of the American people,' he went on.
The embattled congressman said he plans to continue his campaign for reelection despite the indictment.
Cuellar said he and his wife tried to meet with prosecutors and they 'refused to discuss the case or hear our side.'
'Imelda and I have been married for 32 years. On top of being an amazing wife and mother, she's an accomplished businesswoman with two degrees. She spent her career working with banking, tax and consulting. The allegation that she is anything but qualified and hard-working is both wrong and offensive.'
Cuellar said at the time of the raid he was cooperating with law enforcement and he did not believe he was the target of the investigation. It is not yet clear if the indictment will be related to that investigation.
The nine-term Democrat is a past co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, a group dedicated to furthering relations with the oil-rich nation on the Caspian Sea.
Congressman Henry Cuellar was indicted by the Department of Justice
Cuellar insisted he was innocent in response to the news
In that role, Cuellar is known to have met repeatedly with Azerbaijan officials, including the country's ambassador to the US, Elin Suleymanov.
Azerbaijan has been harshly criticized in the past for bribing foreign officials and diplomats to secure its foreign policy aims and legitimize dubious election results.
The practice is so common in the country that it is known there as 'caviar diplomacy,' but it is unclear whether the FBI is investigating any similar allegations in relation to Cuellar.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (right) is seen meeting with Azerbaijan's ambassador to the US in 2013. The FBI raid on Cuellar's home is reportedly related to a probe into Azerbaijani activities in the US
Federal agents were seen inside and around Cuellar's mansion in Laredo, where they took photos of trucks parked in the circular drive out front
FBI agents conducting a 'court-authorized' investigation at the Texas home of United States Representative Henry Cuellar, who had vowed to cooperate fully
FBI agents load items including a computer from the home of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, into their vehicles
FBI agents load boxes, bins, bags and a computer from the home of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar into their vehicles in Laredo, Texas
Since 2004, Cuellar has represented a district that extends from the U.S. border with Mexico near McAllen to Laredo, and north to San Antonio's eastern outskirts.
Cuellar's district includes hundreds of miles of southern border along the Rio Grande River separating Texas and Mexico – it also stretches into the state to include parts of San Antonio
The moderate Democrat had a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Cuellar, who represents much of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, has been a vocal critic of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their handling of a surge of illegal crossings at the border.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13388247/Trump-Texas-Henry-Cuellar-bribes-FBI.html
The married couple from Laredo, Texas pleaded not guilty and were released on $100,000 bail each.
While the trial is scheduled to begin this summer, it's likely that pre-trial legal disputes over the case will delay the start by months – and could even result in dismissal.
Cuellar, one of the few remaining moderate Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, has already stepped down from his assignment on the House Appropriations Committee amid the active criminal case proceedings.
Rep. Cuellar pleaded not guilty. He and his wife were released on $100,000 bail each
Trump on Sunday stepped in to defend Cuellar, calling the pro-life lawmaker a 'respected Democrat congressman.'
In the Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump accused Biden's DOJ of targeting Cuellar because he has more moderate or conservative views on border security.
'They're a bunch of D.C. Thugs, and at some point they will be paying a very big price for what they have done to our Country,' wrote the former president.
Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar ripped 'far-left celebrity' colleague AOC for campaigning for his RIVAL in Texas and urges her to focus on her own district as he battled FBI probe
- Ocasio-Cortez, N.Y., went to Texas to campaign for progressive House candidate Jessica Cisneros
- Cisneros, a 28-year-old immigration attorney, challenged Cuellar for the second time after coming within three points of beating him in 2020
- 'This election is taking place in the 28th Congressional District of Texas- not New York City,' Cuellar said in a statement to DailyMail.com
- 'Members should take care of their own district before taking failed ideas to South Texas'
Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar ripped his colleague Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for campaigning for his primary challenger, calling her a 'far-left celebrity' who should take care of her own district.
Ocasio-Cortez, N.Y., headed to Texas to campaign for progressive House candidate Jessica Cisneros, a Laredo immigration attorney who is challenging Cuellar.
'This election is taking place in the 28th Congressional District of Texas- not New York City,' Cuellar said in a statement to DailyMail.com.
'The voters will decide this election, not far left celebrities who stand for defunding the police, open borders, eliminating oil & gas jobs, and raising taxes on hard working Texans,' he continued.
'Members should take care of their own district before taking failed ideas to South Texas.'
Cuellar, a moderate Democrat from Texas who has come after President Biden's immigration policies, is a favorite target of progressives
Ocasio-Cortez's campaign called Cuellar an 'anti-choice Democrat' and tied him to Donald Trump in a campaign email.
Cuellar was the only Democrat to buck his party and vote against a reproductive rights bill that passed the House. The bill, which stalled in the Senate, would have banned a wide range of restrictions commonly used in red states.
'It’s called conscience, ' he said. 'I am a Catholic, and I do believe in rights, right to life, and it’s just a matter of conscience, sometimes people vote because of politics, they vote just because it's a Democratic or Republican issue, for me it’s just a matter of conscience.'
Cuellar, the last anti-choice 'Democrat' in the House once had a 70% voting record of siding with Donald Trump.
The Texas Democrat has also been a vociferous critic of President Biden's immigration policies.
Ocasio-Cortez, N.Y., still wearing a mask, went to Texas to campaign for two progressive House candidates
Cuellar's primary opponent was Jessica Cisneros, a 28-year-old immigration attorney
Cuellar was hit with an FBI Raid on his home just ahead of the race, hoping to help get Jessica elected
Cisneros had the backing of AOC.
Cisneros even had the backing of Elizabeth Warren. Jessica also had the backing of Bernie Sanders.
Elizabeth Warren campaigned against longtime Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo, Texas
Jessica Cisneros had a long-term affair with her former high school teacher John Balli, who is now a lawyer.
Balli's ex-wife Ramirez said Jessica broke up her marriage
'There is an ongoing investigation that will show there was no wrongdoing on my part,' Cuellar said.
'As an attorney, I know firsthand that the legal system is a pillar of our democracy.'
'Let me be clear: I'm running for re-election and I intend to win,' Cuellar added.
'I pride myself on being your congressman and always doing things honestly ethically and in the right way,' the congressman said. 'Nothing can distract me from being laser-focused on getting the job done for you and south Texas the way I always have.'
Jose Sanz who is running against Cuellar in the 2024 general election, was arrested on April 12, 2021 for assault. His mugshot is seen above
Cuellar is one of the last pro-life Democrats in Congress and has been critical of President Biden's border policies.
In January 2022 just ahead of his last primary, against Jessica, the FBI raided Cuellar's home and office in Laredo, hauling out a computer and bags filled with other personal items. But no charges or arrests were filed in that case.
The moderate Democrat Cuellar pictured with Joe Biden. "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
US Representative Henry Cuellar was carjacked by three armed attackers in crime-ridden Washington DC. The Texas Democrat was not harmed during the scary assault at his home - but his white Honda CHR with Texas plates was stolen
Illegal immigrants scale fencing with a ladder on the Mexico side of the border in Tecate – then men use ropes to lower themselves down on the U.S. side of the wall
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