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☆ The Mrs. defense: powerful men blaming their wives
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Alito said in a written statement to The New York Times, which first reported the story this week. A Supreme Court justice being unmasked as having a partisan tilt wouldn’t be illegal – just awkward and icky. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersCouples behaving badlyFormer Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, pioneered the Mrs. defense when he and his wife were both accused of funneling campaign funds for private use. A unanimous US Supreme Court, including Alito, later vacated the governor’s conviction and narrowed the scope by which prosecutors can pursue bribery allegations. The Mrs. defense could conceivably be turned on its head and used by a powerful woman to blame her husband.

Persons: Samuel Alito doesn’t, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Alito, “, ” Alito, Ann, Alito won’t, Clarence Thomas ’, Ginni, Thomas, Menendez ‘, Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Menendez’s, Shannon Stapleton, Duncan Hunter, Margaret, Trump, Henry Cuellar, Imelda, ”, . Cuellar, Jesse Jackson Jr, Sandra, Bob McDonnell, Maureen, Cori Bush, Bush, Kim Taylor, Jeremy Taylor Organizations: CNN, New York Times, House, New, New Jersey Democrat, California Republican, Texas Democrat, Illinois Democrat, Former Virginia Gov, Republican, Missouri Democrat, Supervisors Locations: New Jersey, New York, Manhattan, New York City, California, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Iowa, Woodbury County

☆ A White-Collar Indictment Shatters a Congressman’s Blue-Collar Image
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Kenneth P. Vogel | Kitty Bennett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Over the years, Representative Henry Cuellar often harked back to the small house in Laredo, Texas. It was there that his parents, one-time migrant workers who spoke no English, raised him and his seven siblings to value hard work and beware the dangers of debt. The references in speeches, campaign advertisements and interviews were intended to forge affinity with the largely Hispanic residents of his hometown. Mr. Cuellar had become the hub of a bustling small enterprise that blurred the lines between his political operation, his businesses and his family, affording him trappings of affluence even as he sometimes strained to make ends meet. He took on an increasing amount of debt, and his net worth declined.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, ”, Cuellar Organizations: Navy Locations: Laredo , Texas, Laredo, Nationals

☆ Two political operatives struck plea deals in Rep. Henry Cuellar's bribery case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Zoë Richards | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A pair of political operatives tied to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, have agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with the Justice Department's bribery case against Cuellar, according to court documents unsealed this week. A pair of political operatives tied to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, have agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with the Justice Department's bribery case against Cuellar, according to court documents unsealed this week. They devised a "sham consulting contract" with the bank and a plan for Rendon to funnel a majority of its proceeds to Cuellar's wife, according to court documents. Strother used the money to make $10,000 payments every month to Cuellar's wife, totaling $214,890, authorities say. In a statement last week before the charges were unsealed, Cuellar denied any wrongdoing and said he had "proactively sought legal advice" from the House Ethics Committee.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, Cuellar, Mina Colin Strother, Cuellar's, Florencio, Lencho, Imelda, Strother, Rendon, we're, Chris Flood Organizations: Department, Azerbaijan, NBC, Justice Locations: Texas, Mexican, U.S, South Texas

☆ Two former associates of Rep. Henry Cuellar agree to plea deal related to bribery case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Most of the money was eventually sent to the Cuellars, prosecutors allege, but Rendon didn’t think it was a good idea to send money directly to Imelda. From March 2016 to February 2018, Strother transferred nearly $215,000 to Cuellar’s wife, according to court filings. The Cuellars are not named in Strother’s and Rendon’s plea deal agreements, but both of their case numbers are listed as related cases to Cuellar’s in court records. Specific details laid out in the plea agreements also exactly match details in the indictment against Cuellar. Cuellar’s attorney, Chris Flood, told CNN in a statement, “As long as Strother and Rendon tell the truth, we are not worried.

Persons: Henry Cuellar’s, Department’s, Mina Colin Strother, Cuellar’s, Florencio “ Lencho, Cuellar, Imelda, Rendon, Strother, Imelda Cuellar, Chris Flood, ” Organizations: CNN —, Texas, CNN, ” CNN, Rendon Locations: San Antonio, Mexico City, Azerbaijan, South Texas, United States, Strother’s

☆ Charges Against a Congressman Lay Bare Foreign Government Influence Attempts
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Kenneth P. Vogel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As tensions flared over disputed territory in the Caucasus region in the summer of 2020, Azerbaijan’s squadron of high-priced Washington lobbyists scrambled to pin the blame on neighboring Armenia and highlight its connections to Russia. Unbeknown to members of Congress, Azerbaijan had an inside man who was working closely with the Azerbaijani ambassador to Washington at the time on a parallel line of attack, according to text messages released by federal prosecutors. Azerbaijan’s ambassador responded enthusiastically. “Your amendment is more timely than ever,” the ambassador, Elin Suleymanov, wrote to Mr. Cuellar. “It is all about Russian presence there,” added Mr. Suleymanov, who referred to the congressman as “Boss.”

Persons: Unbeknown, Henry Cuellar, Elin Suleymanov, Cuellar, ”, Suleymanov Organizations: Azerbaijan’s, Texas Democrat, Russian Locations: Caucasus, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Washington, Texas, “

Representative Henry Cuellar, Democrat of Texas, and his wife were charged with participating in a yearslong $600,000 bribery scheme involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank, according to a federal indictment unsealed in Houston on Friday. Mr. Cuellar, 68, and his wife Imelda, 67, are accused of bribery and money laundering in connection with their efforts on behalf of a bank based in Mexico City and an energy company owned by Azerbaijan, according to the 54-page complaint. Mr. Cuellar is also accused of acting as an agent of a foreign entity while serving as a U.S. government official. Payments made from 2014 to 2021 were laundered through “sham consulting contracts,” front companies and shell companies owned by Mrs. Cuellar, who performed “little to no legitimate work” under the contracts, lawyers with the Justice Department’s criminal division wrote.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, Mr, Cuellar, Imelda, . Cuellar Organizations: Justice Locations: Texas, Azerbaijan, Mexican, Houston, Mexico City, U.S

☆ Mike Johnson can't get Republicans in control
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Republicans still can't get out of their own way. Speaker Mike Johnson is leading one of the narrowest majorities in history. Related storiesAs CNN reported, there are at least four races where current GOP lawmakers support primary challengers. Because at the end of the day, we're not judged by how many Republicans we have in Congress. As for the more traditional Republicans, they are targeting Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, a Freedom Caucus member.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, I've, Tony Gonzales, Matt Gatez, Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Gonzales, Mike Bost, we're, We're, Brandon Herrera, Bob Good, McCarthy, Mike Rogers, John McGuire, Johnson doesn't, Harriet Hageman, Liz Cheney, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Henry Cuellar, Cuellar Organizations: Service, House Republicans, CNN, GOP, Florida Republican, Republicans, Texas Republican, Caucus, Democrat, House Armed, Navy, Texas Democrat Locations: Tony Gonzales of Texas, Florida, Illinois, Virginia, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, Texas

☆ House Republicans vote to make it harder for troops to get abortions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Republicans voted to eliminate a Pentagon policy that makes it easier for service members to obtain abortions. The House voted largely along party lines 221-213 in tacking on the restriction to a larger must-pass bill funding the Pentagon. Only two House Republicans, Reps. John Duarte of California and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, broke with the party. House Republicans have a number of other amendment votes to press through Thursday evening. CNN's Melanie Zanona wrote that the inclusion of the abortion restrictions will lead the final House vote to be extremely one-sided.

Persons: John Duarte of, Brian Fitzpatrick, Henry Cuellar, Duarte, Cuellar, Ronny Jackson, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Joe Biden, Biden, CNN's Melanie Zanona Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Republicans, Democrat, Texas Republican, Defense Department, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Marine Corps, White, House Republicans, National Defense, Democratic Locations: Wall, Silicon, tacking, John Duarte of California, Pennsylvania, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Texas

☆ GOP billionaire who funded Clarence Thomas's vacations has also given thousands of dollars to Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP megadonor Harlan Crow has been secretly funding lavish vacations for Justice Clarence Thomas. But he's also given thousands to Democrats who've stymied the party's agenda at various times. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, as well as Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Henry Cuellar. According to federal campaign finance data, the Texas billionaire has given $16,800 to Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey since 2018, contributing thousands as recently as October 2022. For his part, Crow told ProPublica in a statement that he and his wife "have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue."

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