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The Home Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into Consultant Henry Cuellar, Democrat of Texas, over allegations that he accepted bribes and dedicated misconduct in workplace, the panel stated on Wednesday.
Mr. Cuellar was indicted this month on federal prices that he participated in a yearslong, $600,000 bribery scheme involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican financial institution. After a member is charged criminally, Home guidelines require that the Ethics Committee resolve whether or not Congress must also examine the lawmaker’s conduct.
The panel voted unanimously to determine a four-member investigative subcommittee to find out whether or not Mr. Cuellar “solicited or accepted bribes, gratuities or improper items; acted as a overseas agent; violated federal cash laundering legal guidelines; misused his official place for personal achieve; and/or made false statements or omissions on public disclosure statements filed with the Home.”
Consultant Michael Visitor, Republican of Mississippi and the chairman of the ethics panel, will even lead the subcommittee scrutinizing Mr. Cuellar’s conduct. Consultant Glenn F. Ivey of Maryland would be the prime Democrat.
The Ethics Committee has usually chosen to halt its investigative work whereas federal prosecutors pursue a member of Congress, to keep away from getting in the best way of the Justice Division’s work. However just lately it has adopted a extra aggressive stance.
After the panel launched a scathing report digging into the conduct of George Santos, a serial fabulist who on the time was representing New York as a Republican, the Home voted to expel him.
The Ethics Committee “is conscious of the dangers related to twin investigations and is in communication with the Division of Justice to mitigate the potential dangers whereas nonetheless assembly the committee’s obligations to safeguard the integrity of the Home,” the panel stated in an announcement about Mr. Cuellar.
Federal prosecutors have accused Mr. Cuellar, 68, and his spouse Imelda, 67, of bribery and cash laundering in reference to their efforts on behalf of an oil and gasoline firm owned by Azerbaijan’s leaders, in addition to an unnamed financial institution primarily based in Mexico Metropolis. Mr. Cuellar can also be accused of performing as an agent of a overseas entity whereas a U.S. authorities official.
A consultant for Mr. Cuellar didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the Ethics Committee’s investigation.
Mr. Cuellar has denied the costs within the federal indictment, refused to resign and vowed to run once more and win re-election. In an announcement on Wednesday night, he declared his innocence.
“I respect the work of the Home Ethics Committee,” he stated. “As I stated on Might 3, I’m harmless of those allegations, and the whole lot I’ve carried out in Congress has been to serve the individuals of South Texas.”
A local of Laredo, Texas, he has served within the Home since 2005 and amassed appreciable energy in his district and on Capitol Hill, the place he has established a file as a center-leaning Democrat prepared to interrupt along with his personal occasion, together with by being the lone Democratic opponent of abortion rights within the Home.
On Tuesday night time, Jay Furman, a retired Navy officer, gained the Republican nomination to problem Mr. Cuellar in November. The district has grown extra aggressive in recent times, and Mr. Furman has stated he plans to spotlight the corruption prices in opposition to Mr. Cuellar within the race.
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