The FBI raid on the Texas home and campaign headquarters of Rep. Henry Cuellar is reportedly related to a criminal probe into ties between several US businessmen and the former Soviet state of Azerbaijan.
On Friday, federal agents were seen at Cuellar's home in Laredo, photographing trucks parked outside and removing boxes, bins, bags and a computer from the house.
The FBI would only confirm that it is conducting an 'ongoing investigation', but a source told ABC News that the raid was related to a federal grand jury investigation into possible crimes related to Azerbaijan.
It's still not clear whether Cuellar himself is a subject or target of the probe, and he has vowed to cooperate with any investigation.
The nine-term Democrat is co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, an obscure group dedicated to furthering relations with the oil-rich nation on the Caspian Sea.
In that role, Cuellar is known to have met repeatedly with Azerbaijan officials, including the country's ambassador to the US, Elin Suleymanov.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (right) is seen meeting with Azerbaijan's ambassador to the US in 2013. The FBI raid on Cuellar's home is reportedly related to a probe into Azerbaijani activities in the US
Cuellar is co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, an obscure group dedicated to furthering relations with the oil-rich nation. He is seen right with Suleymanov in 2013
FBI agents have been spotted conducting a 'court-authorized' investigation at the Texas home of United States Representative Henry Cuellar, who has vowed to cooperate fully
Azerbaijan has been harshly criticized in the past for bribing foreign officials and diplomats to secure its foreign policy aims and legitimize dubious election results.
The practice is so common in the country that it is known there as 'caviar diplomacy,' but it is unclear whether the FBI is investigating any similar allegations in relation to Cuellar.
In a statement, the FBI remained tight-lipped about the reason for Friday's raid, but confirmed that it was part of an 'ongoing investigation.'
'The FBI was present in the vicinity of Windridge Drive and Estate Drive in Laredo conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity,' a Bureau spokesperson said.
'The FBI cannot provide further comment on an ongoing investigation.'
Cuellar, who has harshly criticized the Biden administration over its border policies in the past, vowed in a statement to cooperate with any probe.
