Federal prosecutors have urged the court to proceed with the bribery case against U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, contending that dismissing the charges under the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause would undermine established legal precedents. Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, face allegations of accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a Mexican bank in exchange for political favors.
In a recent development, U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal dismissed two of the 14 counts against the Cuellars, specifically those related to violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). This decision followed a memorandum from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, which limited FARA charges to cases involving traditional espionage by foreign government actors. Despite this dismissal, the Cuellars still confront 12 charges, including conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering. The trial, initially set for September, has been rescheduled to April 6, 2026, with an expected duration of five weeks. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/52ca87ef616e39ef0270733900361c92?utm_source=openai))
Cuellar’s defense team has filed a motion to dismiss the entire indictment, arguing that the remaining charges are predicated on the dismissed FARA counts. They contend that the indictment infringes upon the Speech or Debate Clause by criminalizing legislative acts. The prosecution, however, maintains that the indictment is legally sound and that dismissing the charges would set a concerning precedent. ([rollcall.com](https://rollcall.com/2025/05/12/rep-henry-cuellar-seeks-to-dismiss-bribery-indictment/?utm_source=openai))
Since the indictment in April 2024, three individuals connected to the case have pleaded guilty: Colin Strother, a former top aide to Cuellar; Florencio Rendon, a Texas political and business consultant; and Irada Akhoundova, director of a Texas affiliate of the Azerbaijan energy company involved. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/cuellar-bribery-investigation-azerbaijan-mexico-943df07248de55d89133a7a51ccc60a9?utm_source=openai))
Cuellar, who has served in Congress for over 20 years representing a district from San Antonio to the U.S.-Mexico border, maintains his innocence. Despite the legal challenges, he continues to serve in Congress and is seeking reelection. ([houstonchronicle.com](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/henry-cuellar-texas-indictment-19857455.php?utm_source=openai))