HOUSTON (AP) — A judge on Thursday granted a request by federal prosecutors to dismiss two of the 14 counts against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife, as part of a federal bribery and conspiracy indictment. The judge also ordered that their trial, which had been set for September, be rescheduled for next year.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Justice Department had asked U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal to dismiss two counts that Cuellar and his wife had each faced related to violating the prohibition on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal.
Federal authorities have charged Cuellar, 69, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, with accepting thousands of dollars in exchange for the congressman advancing the interests of an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. Cuellar is accused of agreeing to influence legislation favorable to Azerbaijan and deliver a pro-Azerbaijan speech on the floor of the U.S. House. The payments to the couple initially went through a Texas-based shell company owned by Imelda Cuellar and two of the couple’s children, according to the indictment.
Cuellar has said he and his wife are innocent.
Prosecutors said they were dismissing the two counts following a February memorandum from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that shifted the focus of charges filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The law is aimed at ensuring transparency about lobbying efforts done in the U.S. at the direction of foreign governments or principals.
Bondi’s memorandum said that such charges “shall be limited to instances of alleged conduct similar to more traditional espionage by foreign government actors.”
During a Zoom court hearing, Rosenthal said she was set to file an order granting the prosecution’s motion to dismiss the two counts.
Cuellar and his wife each still face 12 charges, including conspiracy, bribery and money laundering.
Rosenthal also granted a request from both prosecutors and attorneys for the Cuellars to reschedule their trial in Houston. The couple’s trial had been set to begin Sept. 22. Rosenthal agreed to move it to April 6. The trial is expected to last five weeks, prosecutors said.
Stephen Dockery, one of Cuellar's lawyers, asked Rosenthal to dismiss the entire indictment because the remaining charges rely on the allegations tied to the dismissed counts and accusations that fall under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
“There’s no reason to strike the indictment,” Rosaleen O’Gara, one of the prosecutors, told Rosenthal.
The judge did not immediately rule on the request to dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment.
Cuellar has served in Congress for over 20 years, and his district stretches from San Antonio to the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas. In May, Rosenthal denied a request by lawyers for the Cuellars to move their trial from Houston to their hometown of Laredo, Texas, about 315 miles (507 kilometers) southwest along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Since Cuellar’s indictment in April 2024, three people have pleaded guilty in connection with the case: Colin Strother, one of Cuellar’s top former aides; Florencio Rendon, a Texas political and business consultant; and Irada Akhoundova, who was director of a Texas affiliate of an Azerbaijan energy company.
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FILE - Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, speaks during a hearing of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations on Capitol Hill, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Like it or not, Bills coach Sean McDermott has come to terms with tolerating the imperfections of Buffalo’s patchwork and injury-depleted defense for however many games left in the season — including the likelihood a playoff berth.
It’s not so much McDermott lowering his standards, but rather taking a cup half-full approach in defending a unit often criticized for its flaws rather than celebrated for its resilience.
A case in point came last week, when McDermott was reminded of how coordinator Bobby Babich used the word “disgusting” in referring to Buffalo allowing a season-high 246 yards rushing in a 35-31 win over New England.
Acknowledging the run defense has been a season-long concern, McDermott proceeded to outline how the unit has responded in the clutch.
He credited his staff and players for stepping up by saying: “It’s what you do when the moments are the brightest.”
“I know you want to focus on the negative,” McDermott added. “I’m going to stay focused on both ends of the spectrum, because that’s the perspective I have to have, and how you get things corrected.”
The bad and the good were once again apparent in a 23-20 win over Cleveland on Sunday.
It was a game in which the Bills allowed 160 yards rushing — the seventh time this season they’ve allowed 150 or more.
And yet, the defense stiffened when it mattered with two interceptions, twice limiting the Browns to field goals inside the red zone, and turning the ball over on downs at the Cleveland 30 on Greg Rousseau’s 14-yard sack with 5:02 left.
With Buffalo’s offense sputtering in managing just 62 yards and three points in the second half, the defense secured the win by leaving the Browns no choice but punting from their 1 on what became their final possession with 1:49 left.
This was emblematic of how Buffalo’s defense has performed for much of this season.
Though the Bills entered Monday ranking 31st against the run, 27th on third down, and tied for 16th in allowing nearly 23 points per outing, their second-half numbers are superior.
Buffalo is tied for fourth in the NFL in allowing an average nine points in the second half. Of the Bills’ 20 takeaways this season, 12 have come in the second half.
The production has been enough in helping Buffalo (11-4) become the NFL’s fifth team ever to reach 11 wins for six or more consecutive seasons. The Bills still have an outside chance of winning a sixth straight AFC East title in trailing New England (12-3), and have the inside track to clinch a seventh straight playoff berth, needing only a loss by Houston or Indianapolis.
Injuries are an issue, with edge rushers Michael Hoecht and Landon Jackson, and starting safety Taylor Rapp on IR. Starting tackle Ed Oliver, however, is on track to return after being sidelined by a torn left bicep in Week 8.
The ultimate question is whether the defense can hold up in the postseason or wilt as it's done too many times in the past. In the past five times the Bills have been eliminated, including two AFC championship game appearances, they’ve allowed an average of 33 points, 426 yards and 150 yards rushing.
“Do we need to be more consistent? Yes. You can’t allow a team to do what they did,” McDermott said Sunday, before turning to the positives against Cleveland. “The takeaways, in addition to the adjustments by the staff in the fourth quarter in particular. The guys showed up and they made plays they needed to make.”
A James Cook-led running game. In scoring twice and finishing with 117 yards rushing, the fourth-year player topped 100 for the ninth time this season. O.J. Simpson did so 11 times in 1973, and Cook is tied for second with Thurman Thomas (1992).
Third down production. Buffalo converted just 2 of 8 third down opportunities, for its second-worst outing of the season after going 2 of 9 in a 24-14 loss to Atlanta.
Rousseau. The fifth-year player had a season-high 2 1/2 sacks and was credited with a career-high seven quarterback hits.
WR Keon Coleman. The 2024 second-round pick was a healthy scratch for the third time this season, including serving a one-game team suspension for being late to a meeting.
LB Shaq Thompson did not return after hurting his neck. ... S Jordan Poyer hurt his hamstring in the second half. ... McDermott listed Josh Allen as day to day because of a sore right foot, though he expects the quarterback to play this weekend. Allen was hurt late in the second quarter against Cleveland before being cleared to finish the game.
24 — Number of TDs rushing the Bills have allowed this season — the second most in team history and two short of matching the franchise record set in a 14-game season in 1972.
Brace to host the defending Super Bowl champion and two-time NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) on Sunday.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) throws under pressure from Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Deone Walker (96) during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott waves to fans after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Daquan Jones (92) celebrates an interception against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)
