Facing corruption trial, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar sets up legal defense fund

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a South Texas Democrat facing federal corruption charges, has quietly established a defense fund to cover his legal expenses, an IRS filing shows.

The Henry Cuellar Legal Expense Trust was set up Aug. 20 to “pay expenses in connection with legal proceedings in connection with service to U.S. House of Representatives,” according to IRS paperwork. The fund lists Allison Murray, a partner in the Rhode Island-based regulatory firm CFO Compliance, as its contact.

In May, federal authorities indicted Cuellar — a longtime Laredo congressman whose district also includes San Antonio — on charges of bribery, money laundering and illegally working on behalf of the Azerbaijani government. Cuellar, who’s denied the government’s allegations, is scheduled to go to trial next spring.

Legal defense funds are accounts set up to cover a person’s or group’s legal expenses such as attorney’s fees, court filings and consulting expenses.

Prominent political figures have set up similar funds as they face mounting legal fees. Bill and Hilary Clinton set up such a fund during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, for example, and Sarah Palin was beneficiary of such a fund while she served as Alaska’s governor.  

Cuellar, who’s serving his 10th term in the U.S. House, is up for reelection in November. He faces retired Navy Commander Jay Furman, a MAGA Republican who said during an interview that he relocated to San Antonio so he could run in the border district and create a “national platform to promote President Trump.” Despite the legal storm surrounding Cuellar, Furman faces long odds in the 28th Congressional district, a longtime Democrat stronghold. Cuellar won his last election by 13 points, despite an FBI raid of his home and office shortly before voters went to the polls.

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This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 15, 2024.