Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar expected to be indicted, source says

Washington — Federal prosecutors are expected to denote an indictment against Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas connected Friday, a U.S. charismatic confirmed to CBS News. 

Details of nan indictment, including really galore charges Cueller faces and nan quality of nan allegations, were not instantly available. NBC News first reported nan anticipated indictment. 

Cuellar indicated successful a connection that he and his woman were charged, and he said they are guiltless of nan accusations. The congressman said he will proceed to activity reelection to nan House successful November.

"I want to beryllium clear that some my woman and I are guiltless of these allegations. Everything I person done successful Congress has been to service nan group of South Texas," he said.

The congressman said successful his connection that he had sought ineligible proposal from nan House Ethics Committee earlier taking immoderate action — though it was not clear from nan connection what actions he is referring to. The committee provided a written opinion, arsenic good arsenic a 2nd 1 from a nationalist rule firm, he said. Cuellar and his woman besides requested a gathering pinch prosecutors successful Washington, D.C., "to explicate nan facts," he said, but they declined to talk nan lawsuit pinch them.

The FBI conducted a "court-authorized" hunt of nan congressman's location successful Laredo and run agency successful January 2022, though Cuellar's lawyer told CBS News astatine nan clip that nan congressman was not nan target of a national investigation. A root acquainted pinch nan probe said past that nan activity astatine Cuellar's location was portion of an investigation related to Azerbaijan and respective U.S. businessmen.

The congressman's agency said astatine nan clip that he was cooperating afloat pinch nan investigation, and Cuellar denied wrongdoing. It was not instantly clear whether nan indictment stemmed from nan search.

Cuellar was elected to nan House successful 2005 and represents nan 28th Congressional District. His territory stretches from San Antonio southbound to nan U.S.-Mexico border. Considered a mean Democrat, Cuellar faced a reliable superior challenge from migration lawyer Jessica Cisneros, his erstwhile intern, during nan 2022 predetermination cycle, but narrowly defeated her successful a runoff election.

Cuellar, who is Catholic, is nan only remaining self-identified "pro-life" Democrat successful nan House, arsenic abortion authorities predominate nan Democratic Party.

Cuellar was successful nan news successful October 2023 erstwhile he said he was carjacked by 3 equipped assailants while returning to his location successful nan Navy Yard vicinity of Washington, D.C. 

Andres Triay contributed to this report.