DOJ indicted Congressman Henry Cuellar [D-TX], and his wife Imelda on Friday for allegedly accepting bribes of close to $600,000.

On Monday Cuellar’s chief of staff, Jake Hochberg, resigned amidst news rumors of a staff exodus 

Charged with bribery, money laundering and wire fraud US Rep. Henry Cuellar, and his wife both pled not guilty on Friday

Charges read Friday allege couple used a series of shell businesses and fake invoices to conceal bribes from foreign companies – including an Azerbaijani oil company and a Mexican bank

In exchange for alleged bribes, Cuellar is believed to have used his office to help advance the companies’ interests in U.S. policy agendas

The couple were released Friday on $100,000 bail each, but Cuellar has stepped down from his House committee assignments 

The political bottom appears to be falling out for Rep. Henry Cuellar after he was charged along with his wife Imelda Cuellar [photo], by the DOJ with $600,000 that came in from foreign companies for alleged bribery, money laundering and wire fraud

Rep. Henry Cuellar’s chief of staff quit after the House member from Laredo, Texas and his wife were charged by the US Justice Department with bribery and fraud. The DOJ indicted Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda on Friday for allegedly accepting bribes of close to $600,000.
Three days later Cuellar’s top aide since 2021, Jake Hochberg, announced his resignation as Cuellar’s Chief of Staff. Multiple sources confirmed that more staffers are also considering leaving in the coming days.
Rep Henry Cuellar, 68, and Imelda Cuellar were indicted Friday on charges alleging they used a series of shell businesses and fake invoices to conceal approximately $600,000 in bribes from foreign companies – including an Azerbaijani oil company and a Mexican bank.
‘The bribe payments were laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar. Cuellar performed little or no legitimate work under the sham contracts.’ 
The scheme ran ‘at least’ from December 2014 to November 2021.  
Cuellar’s home in Texas was raided by the FBI in January 2022 as part of an investigation into his ties to Azerbaijani businessmen. 
In exchange for the alleged bribes, Rep. Cuellar, a Democrat representing Texas, is believed to have used his office to help advance the two companies’ interests in U.S. policy agendas.

Cuellar’s Chief of Staff Jake Hochberg, [photo], quit on Monday after the congressman was charged with bribery and fraud which is believed to be a harbinger of expected mass resignations among Cuellar’s staff

Besides already resigning his committee assignments, it’s likely that Cuellar could face backlash even before a verdict is handed down, with Republicans preparing to capitalize on the debacle if Democrats don’t initiate punitive measures against the congressman immediately, similar to the frenzy last year when 105 GOP lawmakers joined Democrats to expel former GOP Rep., George Santos, before he was convicted of a crime. Significantly though, after a congressional investigation found wrongdoing against Santos.
Cuellar was one of the 206 Democrats who voted to expel Santos in December despite a federal investigation having not ended.
On Friday, the couple from Laredo, Texas entered not guilty pleas then were released on $100,000 bail each. The pair could each face up to life behind bars, if convicted.
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 remaining moderate Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, has already stepped down from his assignment on the House Appropriations Committee amid active criminal case proceedings.

Charged with bribery, money laundering and wire fraud US Rep. Henry Cuellar, [photo], and his wife both pled not guilty, and were released Friday on $100,000 bail each However he has stepped down from his House committee assignments

On Monday, the embattled Rep did not appear on floor, his first chance to cast a vote since the indictment.
The Justice Department’s charges against the politician include alleging the Cuellar’s engaged in bribery, money laundering and wire fraud.
The opposition has long considered Cuellar’s seat flippable in 2024, more so now as Republicans see a greater possibility after last week’s indictment of his family.