Growing Trend of U.S. Politicians Co-opted by Foreign Governments
Photo credit: Governor Gavin Newsom’s Official Website, Published: Oct 30, 2023
Representative Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, was recently implicated for accepting a $600,000 bribe from an oil company in Azerbaijan. He is being charged with working as an agent for a foreign entity while a U.S. government official because he lobbied Congress on the company’s behalf. The bribe was tied to a money laundering scheme that cycled through a bank in Mexico. Cuellar is also being accused of attempting to weaken US money laundering rules, particularly those that would hurt Mexican banks. Frighteningly, Cuellar is the leading Democrat on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
Cuellar being coopted by foreign forces is a serious national security concern. Sadly,