First House Democrat calls on Henry Cuellar to resign

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

11 hours ago


Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) on Friday became the first House Democrat to call for Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) to resign over federal conspiracy and bribery charges.

Why it matters: Cuellar is the second sitting member of Congress currently under indictment, along with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who has faced calls for resignation from over half of his Democratic colleagues.

What he's saying: "While the bar for Federal indictment is high, trust in government is at an all-time low," Phillips told Axios in a text message.

"That's why I believe any elected official or candidate facing such charges should resign or end their campaign. That includes Sen. Menendez, Donald Trump, and Rep. Cuellar."

The backdrop: In a 54-page indictment, the Justice Department accused Cuellar of taking nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani government-controlled oil company and a Mexican bank.

In exchange for the bribes, prosecutors allege, Cuellar pushed legislation and pressured government officials to benefit Azerbaijan and the bank.

Cuellar has proclaimed his innocence and said he plans to run for reelection in November. He secured the Democratic nomination in March.

Representatives for Cuellar did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/05/04/henry-cuellar-resign-indictment-bribery

[JohnSJ]

1. Until he has had his day in court, absolutely not.

[jimfields33]

2. I agree. If he's found guilty, then yes resign. Until then, keep working.

[LeftInTX]

5. The indictment is pretty bad...

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24635272-cuellar-indictment-file-copy

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/03/henry-cuellar-texas-indicted-doj/

[JohnSJ]

7. A person is innocent until proven guilty

[Ponietz]

8. A sworn Representative should avoid the appearance of impropriety

Cuellar isn’t a private citizen and deserves to be held to a higher standard.
Some need to be reminded to get a moral compass.

[Polybius]

19. Sometimes, people need to leave before they have their day in court

Take George Santos for example.

[Voltaire2]

22. Al Franken.

[brooklynite]

24. Al Franken was indicted?

[JohnSJ]

27. Yup. He was pressured out unfortunately by many Democrats

through a letter, and while it was argued at the time it was Franken’s choice, the fact is when you have around 40 Democratic Senators sign a petition urging him to resign, he really didn’t have much choice, and was never given due process to present his case before his Senate colleagues due to the pressure for him to resign.

[SocialDemocrat61]

30. Due process is a judicial standard

for criminal and civil trials. It does not apply to an ethics committee hearing. And since it’s a hearing there is no case to present. The committee determines what evidence to consider and what witnesses to hear testimony from.

[JohnSJ]

31. I was referring to the ethics committee that he was never given

the opportunity to present his case

That is the Connotation I am using it

in this case I am using it as a proceeding to present his case before the ethics committee which he was going to do before the petition and pressure was put on him to resign

[SocialDemocrat61]

32. An ethics committee hearing is not a trial.

He doesn’t get to present a case. The most he could have done is testify but only if the committee called him to give testimony. And if the committee didn’t feel they needed to hear from him, he wouldn’t have been called.

Plus the ethics committee doesn’t determine guilt or innocence, only if senate ethics rules were violated. Nor can it kick a member out of the Senate or prevent other Senators from calling for his resignation. It is totally immaterial to his resignation.

[JohnSJ]

33. The ethics committee investigated allegations of misconduct, and

that is where Franken would have presented his situation. In fact he asked for it.

[SocialDemocrat61]

34. It still doesn't determine guilt or innocence

And Franken could only give testimony if the committee wanted him to testify. He doesn't get to present a case or "his situation".

And regardless of whatever their findings, it still has no bearing or influence on his resignation.

[JohnSJ]

35. Sure he does, but was never given the chance. Democrats are their own worse enemies sometimes

[SocialDemocrat61]

36. No he doesn't

That's not how congressional committees work. And it wouldn't exonerated him of the accusations. It can only determine if senate ethics rules were violated.

[brooklynite]

23. Texas has already held its Primary; Cuellar is our nominee...

I say toss him overboard.

Unless you think the Biden Justice Dept isn’t reputable in its indictments.

[Voltaire2]

3. He should step aside and let another Democrat

run for his seat in November. These charges are not going away.

[LauraInLA]

10. Once he's gone, the seat will probably turn R.

[Voltaire2]

14. Ok but he ain't going to be in Congress

The seat might go to a Republican, or not, but he is not going to be the rep either way.

[LauraInLA]

16. But I'd rather that happens after the election.

[NanaCat]

39. How to say you know nothing of a Congressional District

Without saying you know nothing about it. For the record, TX-28 is D+3. If a Democrat runs, then a Democrat will likely win. His district is Laredo, and San Antonio's east and south sides, which are predominantly Hispanic and/or black.

Not all of Texas is traitor GQP.

Really.

You insult the tens of millions of Democrats living in the blue cities and the border of Texas when you make ignorant assertions like that.

[LauraInLA]

43. Sorry -- there are other posters here who live in the district and believe the seat is in jeopardy.

Their info is the basis of my understanding. I hope you are right and I (and they) are mistaken.

For the record, I was born and raised in Texas, specifically the most Democratic part of the state, and I would never discount Texas democrats’ fervor.

[SARose]

4. He is my Congress Critter

due to gerrymandering by the fools in Austin. Yippeee

[JustAnotherGen]

6. In this case

No. He's innocent until proven guilty.

The GOP never steps down - and we need his vote.

[Ponietz]

9. It's rule of law or nothing for me

All other roads lead to a shithole failed state.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-congressman-henry-cuellar-and-his-wife-charged-bribery-unlawful-foreign-influence-and

[JustAnotherGen]

17. Agree

But everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

I've watched the Menendez case from the point of view of a NJ Democratic Committee member. I did debate prep with First Lady Murphy, and I've now switched my support to Dr. Medina-Campos.

If it is Kim, the GOP Candidate and Menendez - I'm voting for Bob if he is found innocent this month. In the choice between two sleazy politicians - I'm voting for the one that came to our rally in 2018 in defiance of children being separated from their families by the Trump Regime - and who was livid about the Affirmative Action decision by SCOTUS. He will also vote to lift the filibuster for the passage of Voting Rights.

If Cueller is found guilty - by all means - step down. But until found guilty -you are innocent. But I also trust the people of his district and give them the agency to demand he step down.

[brooklynite]

25. Yes he is...which has nothing to do with the merits of his being a Democratic candidate.

[JustAnotherGen]

28. Menendez or Cuellar?

[brooklynite]

29. Both

[JustAnotherGen]

37. That's a decision

To be made at the District and State Level.

I trust Cueller's district - I trust the people of my state to make the best decision for their personal interests.

ETA - being a high dollar financial contributor AND an elected Comittee member for your county - stay focused on protecting your county party members. Stay off the "high heat". That's my dad's phrase when he coached our little league team.

High heat is out of focus and takes you off task. Your key job this November is to get those local and county seats. I've been doing this for awhile. I'm going two towns over for a few hours this afternoon to canvass with Council Candidates and Altman volunteers. Its not just my precinct - its getting to know candidates I will be financially supporting and letting them.leverage my profile in the county.

[LauraInLA]

11. I'm not that interested in anything Dean Philips has to say. And I'd rather Cuellar,

whom I cannot stand, stay in office until convicted. Hopefully that won’t happen until after November. Once Cuellar is gone, we’ll probably lose the seat.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. The fact that it was Phillips who came out

sort of cracked me up with the irony.

[Demsrule86]

13. Absolutely not...but you will soon be gone Dean Phillips. You

are not running in 2024.

Of course, he calls out 'both sides'. Seriously Dean? And why should we willingly give up a House seat? Ask your GOP friends when Matt Gaetz is resigning.


'seven years have passed, each presenting historic opportunities to practice a brand of optimistic politics that repairs relationships and improves people’s lives. We have met those moments, and after three terms it is time to pass the torch.

To my colleagues in Congress: serving with you has been the honor of a lifetime - particularly during some of the darkest days in our nation’s history.

America has endured for a remarkable 246 years as the longest-lasting democratic republic in the world, but we are facing a crisis of cooperation, common sense, and truth. Civility matters, respect matters, listening matters, and effective governance matters. No party has a monopoly on solutions, and we must stop fighting one another and begin fighting for one another - before it is too late.'
https://phillips.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1003

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. thank goodness everyone went to bat for his anti-abortion ass in 2022

[BumRushDaShow]

20. He was one of the "Bart Stupak 17"

who threatened to kill the Affordable Care Act unless Democrats acceded to their demands.

Health care latest: Dems still chasing votes
March 19, 2010 9:22 p.m. EDT

(snip)

Avoiding Obama?: Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat who hasn't decided how to vote, is refusing to answer a telephone call from the White House.

"If I have to talk to him, I'll talk to him," Cuellar said begrudgingly of a phone call his office received from the White House on Wednesday. But Cuellar told reporters in the Capitol he has so far refused to return the call because he first wants to decide how he'll vote on the health care package.

He also acknowledged that it was "White House staff" that placed the call, but he presumes the president wanted to speak to him. "At the end of the day, when we take a vote, he's not going to be out there supporting me and running my elections," Cuellar said.

"It's going to be up to me to run my election. And it's up to me to decide on my own that this is in the best interests of my district."

(snip)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/19/health.care.latest/index.html

Stupak eventually crafted an amendment that 64 (D)s signed off on. And 5 years later, he was one of only 15 still left in Congress (and that number has dwindled even since then).

[LiberalFighter]

21. Phillips?

[brooklynite]

26. How many standing by Cuellar are standing by Senator Menendez?

[Voltaire2]

38. Both of them need to go. We should be the clean government party.

There should be zero tolerance for this shit.

[NanaCat]

40. Why don't you use your almighty Rolodex

To call some all-knowing Dem insider to conduct a poll about that?

That would be more productive than a post sneering at other DU members who believe in innocent until proved guilty.

[brooklynite]

41. Sneering has nothing to do with it...

My goal is to get the most Democrats elected. While maintaining one’s LEGAL rights to criminal defense, that doesn’t extend to political support. If the indictment is reputable, I’m willing to cast the candidate aside and look for alternatives.

[CarolinaNC]

42. I'm honest and I want a honest Party! If you are doing wrong and you know you are wrong...go to the other Party!