Accusations of participating in bribery schemes were brought against the US congressman from the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The agency said the charges allege two separate schemes were intended to benefit the government of Azerbaijan and a bank in Mexico.
The indictment cited by Reuters states that between December 2014 and November 2021, Cuellar and his wife received bribes worth an estimated $600,000 from Azerbaijan and the unnamed bank.
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The agency noted that the money in question was laundered with fictitious contracts for consulting services from fictitious companies owned by the wife of the congressman in the lower house of the US Congress - Imelda Cuellar.
In exchange for the bribes, the congressman intended to use his position to influence US foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan on the one hand, and on the other hand to lobby American representatives for a relaxation of anti-money laundering measures against the bank in Mexico, Reuters points out.
"I want to make it clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these charges," the Texas Democrat said in a statement quoted by Reuters. The agency draws attention to the fact that he is famous as one of the most conservative congressmen from the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.