FBI raid on House Democrat's home related to Azerbaijan probe, source says

An FBI spokesperson said any law enforcement activity was "court-authorized."

January 20, 2022, 7:27 PM

The FBI on Wednesday raided Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar's home and campaign office in Texas as part of a wide-ranging federal probe relating to the former Soviet state of Azerbaijan and several U.S. businessmen, a source familiar with the matter told ABC News.

A federal grand jury in Washington is investigating the matter, but it's unclear if Cuellar is a target of the grand jury's probe, ABC News was told.

After FBI agents executed a search warrant at Cuellar's home in Laredo, Texas, an aide to Cuellar said in a statement that the congressman "will fully cooperate in any investigation."

"He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld," the statement said.

PHOTO: Federal agents search the home of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in Laredo, Texas, Jan. 19, 2022.
Federal agents search the home of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in Laredo, Texas, Jan. 19, 2022.
Valarie Gonzalez/The Monitor via AP

On Wednesday, an FBI spokesperson emphasized that any "law enforcement activity" at Cuellar's home and campaign office was "court-authorized."

Cuellar, who represents Texas' 28th Congressional District along the U.S.-Mexico border, has been in Congress since 2005. In recent years he has served as a co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, and repeatedly met with Azerbaijan officials, including the ambassador of Azerbaijan, Elin Suleymanov.

PHOTO: Rep. Henry Cuellar speaks during a news conference at the. Capitol on July 30, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
Rep. Henry Cuellar speaks during a news conference at the. Capitol on July 30, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images, FILE

Over the past year, Cuellar has frequently criticized the Biden administration for some of its border-related policies.

Spokespeople for the FBI and Justice Department declined to comment for this story.

ABC News' Luke Barr, Alexander Mallin and Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.