{"id":2474896,"date":"2025-08-14T19:05:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T23:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-drops-two-charges-against-cuellar-pushes-bribery-trial-to-2026\/"},"modified":"2025-08-14T19:07:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T23:07:55","slug":"judge-drops-two-charges-against-cuellar-pushes-bribery-trial-to-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-drops-two-charges-against-cuellar-pushes-bribery-trial-to-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge drops two charges against Cuellar, pushes bribery trial to 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-drops-two-charges-against-cuellar-pushes-bribery-trial-to-2026%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2474896&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal judge has dismissed two of the 14 charges against Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and his wife,related to conspiracy and bribery allegations involving ties to Azerbaijan and Mexico. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >dismissed charges involved alleged violations<\/a> of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, following a Justice Department directive limiting such prosecutions. The judge also postponed the trial, originally scheduled for September 2024, to April 6, 2026. Cuellar and his wife are accused of accepting $600,000 in bribes from an azerbaijan-owned energy company and a Mexican bank in exchange for influencing U.S. foreign policy and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-family-got-1-million-from-hunter-associate-after-china-wire-gop-oversight-chair\/\" title=\"Biden Family Got  Million From Hunter Associate After China Wire: GOP Oversight Chair\">executive branch actions<\/a>. the couple denies the charges, which still include 12 counts of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering. Cuellar, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/quitting-time-here-are-the-four-people-who-announced-exits-from-congress-on-thursday\/\" title=\"Quitting time: Here are the four people who announced exits from Congress on Thursday\">long-serving congressman<\/a> since 2005, is seeking reelection in 2026, with the trial date set shortly after the Texas primary elections.  <\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Judge drops two charges against Cuellar, pushes bribery trial to 2026<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2204000\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/judges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"federal judge\">federal judge<\/a> on Thursday granted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Justice Department's\">Justice Department<\/a>&lsquo;s request to drop two of 14 charges against Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/henry-cuellar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Henry Cuellar\">Henry Cuellar<\/a> (D-TX) and his wife, both of whom were indicted last year on conspiracy and bribery charges regarding alleged ties to Azerbaijan and Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal also pushed back the couple&rsquo;s trial from Sept. 22 to April 6, 2026, after the prosecution and defense requested the delay. The trial in Houston is expected to last five weeks, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3500199\/bowser-leaves-dc-family-commitment-trump-takeover-police\/\">Bowser leaves DC for &#8216;family commitment&#8217; with district embroiled in federal takeover<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3499904\/doj-charges-five-cartel-leaders-seeks-26-million-bounties\/\">DOJ charges five cartel leaders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnns-abby-phillip-says-trump-has-made-himself-batman-and-dc-gotham-city\/\" title=\"CNN\u2019s Abby Phillip says Trump has made himself \u2018Batman\u2019 and DC \u2018Gotham City\u2019\">seeks  million bounties<\/a><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3499626\/new-york-man-charged-cyberstalking-family-murdered-unitedhealthcare-ceo\/\">New York man charged with cyberstalking family of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The two counts that were dismissed pertained to Cuellar&rsquo;s alleged violation of the federal prohibition on public officials acting as foreign agents. The dismissal comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/ag\/media\/1388541\/dl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"February memo\">February memo<\/a> limiting criminal charges filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.<\/p>\n<p>The lawmaker and his wife are accused of accepting $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-owned gas and oil company and a bank in Mexico City, per the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/archives\/opa\/pr\/us-congressman-henry-cuellar-and-his-wife-charged-bribery-unlawful-foreign-influence-and\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"May 2024 indictment\">May 2024 indictment<\/a>. In exchange for the bribes, Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his seat on Capitol Hill to influence U.S. foreign policy benefiting Azerbaijan and to pressure officials in the executive branch regarding measures that would advance the Mexican bank&rsquo;s interests.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) is pictured as the House of Representatives meets to elect a speaker and convene the new 119th Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Cuellar and his wife have maintained their innocence. The defendants still face 12 charges for conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, the April 2026 trial date is set to arrive one month after the Texas primary election and one month before the runoff. Cuellar, who has held on to his House seat since 2005, is running for reelection next year.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3499904\/doj-charges-five-cartel-leaders-seeks-26-million-bounties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"DOJ CHARGES FIVE CARTEL LEADERS, SEEKS $26 MILLION BOUNTIES\">DOJ CHARGES FIVE CARTEL LEADERS, SEEKS $26 MILLION BOUNTIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Former GOP Rep. Mayra Flores is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3380923\/mayra-flores-hospitalized-hours-comeback-house-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"challenging\">challenging<\/a> the embattled Democratic incumbent. Flores ran against Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) in the past two election cycles but lost both races.<\/p>\n<p>Cuellar&rsquo;s trial faced a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3033484\/texas-rep-henry-cuellars-federal-corruption-trial-delayed-until-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"previous delay\">previous delay<\/a> last year in the months leading up to the 2024 election. If the new date holds, the trial will now take place nearly two years after he and his wife were first charged.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2204000\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2204000\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge drops 2 charges vs. Cuellar; bribery trial delayed to 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2474897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cuellar.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33255,45682,33740,18987],"class_list":["post-2474896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bribery-trial","tag-charges-dropped","tag-court-ruling","tag-cuellar"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/cuellar.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2474896"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2474900,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2474896\/revisions\/2474900"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2474897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2474896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2474896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2474896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}