Texas Democratic Party Declines to Vote on Resolution Condemning Rep. Henry Cuellar

The Texas Democratic Party will not move forward with a resolution to censure U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) over his federal criminal charges and voting record that critics say contradicts core party values, a state party leader confirmed Friday.

Had the resolution passed, Cuellar would have been stripped of access to party resources and barred from participating in party events—except those protected by law.

“This was an unprecedented attempt to hold an elected official accountable—not just for actions that contradict our values, but also for conduct that has embarrassed the party,” said party leader Ramos. “While this resolution didn’t yield the result I had hoped for, it signals that we, as Democrats, are capable of holding ourselves to a higher standard than our conservative counterparts.”

Cuellar is scheduled to stand trial in September on federal charges including bribery, money laundering, and acting on behalf of the Azerbaijani government and a Mexican bank.

He has served as a co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus and has maintained close ties with Azerbaijani officials—actions that critics say align him with a repressive foreign regime rather than the values of the Democratic Party.

“Congressman Henry Cuellar has consistently disregarded the principles of the Texas Democratic Party and the spirit of Texas public service, often acting contrary to the peace and dignity of the state,” the proposed resolution stated.

The resolution committee approved moving the measure forward earlier this week with only one dissenting vote. It was scheduled for consideration by the party’s executive committee on May 12, but will no longer be brought to a vote.

The dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan has a history of channeling oil revenue towards foreign politicians deemed as desirable to its efforts in white washing Azerbaijan’s dismal human rights records in the international arena.

Known as the Azerbaijani Laundromat — so called because the vast sums that passed through it were laundered through a series of shell companies to disguise their origin. The project reveals the many uses to which the country’s kleptocratic ruling clique puts some of its billions. Among other things, the money bought silence by paying off European politicians, journalists and media outlets.

European politicians implicated the Azerbaijani Laundromat hailed from Belgium, Germany, Italy and Slovenia, while reports of reputational laundering touch Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Russia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.