Feds flag potentially illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar

Federal regulators want U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s reelection campaign to explain $6,000 in second-quarter donations that appear to violate U.S. campaign finance laws.

A Sept. 2 letter from the Federal Election Commission gives the South Texas Democrat until Oct. 7 to provide further info on contributions from entities identified as Save Democracy PAC and Green Corridors LLC, which look like they violate federal law.

“Failure to adequately respond by the response date noted above could result in an audit or enforcement action,” the letter notes.

Cuellar’s office was unavailable for immediate comment on the FEC’s inquiry.

A $5,000 donation made on June 30 by Save Democracy PAC appears to run afoul of a federal rule barring political action committees from donating more than $3,500 per election cycle to an individual candidate, according to the FEC. The law only makes exceptions for groups recognized as multi-candidate PACs, the letter notes.

Green Corridors LLC’s $1,000 donation, made April 24, potentially violates a federal law barring limited liability companies, or LLCs, from donating directly to political campaigns, the FEC also states in its letter. Under that rule, LLCs may only donate to campaigns if the IRS considers them to be organized as partnerships rather than corporations.

It’s not unusual for the FEC to reach out to candidates about questionable campaign contributions.

However, the inquiry could provide ammunition for challengers as Cuellar heads into a competitive 2026 election to represent a district that starts south of San Antonio and includes Laredo and much of the Rio Grande Valley. Questions about the 11-term congressman’s honesty are likely since he faces a trial next spring on federal bribery charges.

The Texas Legislature recently redrew Cuellar’s 28th District to be more favorable to the GOP, cutting out a section that included a swath of San Antonio. What’s more, he’ll face former U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, a Republican who’s the first Mexican-born woman to serve in Congress.

After Texas’ redistricting to favor Republican candidates, the Cook Political Report shifted the Cuellar’s district from “lean Democrat” to a “toss up.”

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This article appears in Sep 3-17, 2025.