Rep. Henry Cuellar and Wife Charged in Bribery Scheme
By Ryan Nobles, Rebecca Kaplan, Ken Dilanian, and Scott Wong
WASHINGTON (CNN) --
The Justice Department is expected to announce that Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife have been charged with accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities.
Cuellar, a Democrat, has denied any wrongdoing. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The charges are the latest in a series of corruption scandals involving members of Congress. In recent years, several lawmakers have been convicted of bribery, fraud, and other crimes.
The Justice Department's investigation into Cuellar began in 2019. According to court documents, Cuellar allegedly accepted bribes from a foreign government and a foreign businessman in exchange for his help in obtaining visas and other favors.
Cuellar's wife, Cindi, is also charged in the scheme. She is accused of helping her husband launder the bribe money.
If convicted, Cuellar could face up to 20 years in prison. His wife could face up to five years in prison.
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