Despite charges, few call for Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar to resign from office

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, is facing charges of bribery, money laundering and working on behalf of a foreign government. He is the third lawmaker in Congress to face a federal indictment this session.

But unlike his other embattled colleagues, The Texas Tribune reports, Cuellar is not yet facing a barrage of calls for him to resign.

Five days after he was charged, no member of the Texas delegation, Republican or Democrat, has so far called for him to step down.

The few who have offered to discuss the case stress that Cuellar deserves a fair trial like any other American. Beyond Texas, only one member of the House, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota, has called on Cuellar to leave office.

The response is a stark contrast to the calls from around Congress for Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, to step down after he was indicted on charges of bribery over his connections to Egypt.

U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casarboth called on Menendez to step down last year. The two Democrats both declined to weigh in on Cuellar’s case. Like Cuellar, Castro and Casar both represent districts that include San Antonio.

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