- Wednesday's FBI raid on Rep. Henry Cuellar's home is connected to Azerbaijan, ABC reports.
- It was related to a "wide-ranging" federal probe into the country and "U.S. businessmen," ABC said.
- It's unclear what role Cuellar plays, but his office said he would "fully cooperate" in any investigation.
The FBI's Wednesday raid on Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar's home and campaign office is connected to a broader federal investigation regarding Azerbaijan, ABC News reports.
Federal agents descended on Cuellar's campaign office and home in Laredo, Texas, and agents were seen searching his house and removing multiple items, The Monitor and CNN reported.
"The FBI was present in the vicinity of Windridge Drive and Estate Drive in Laredo conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity," FBI spokeswoman Roseanne Hughes confirmed in a Wednesday statement. "The FBI cannot provide further comment on an ongoing investigation."
ABC, citing a source familiar with the matter, said the FBI activity was "part of a wide-ranging federal probe relating to the former Soviet state of Azerbaijan and several U.S. businessmen." It is so far unknown if Cuellar himself is a target of the investigation, which a grand jury is probing in Washington, D.C.
Cuellar, as ABC noted, is a co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
"Congressman Cuellar will fully cooperate in any investigation," Cuellar's office said in a Wednesday statement to multiple media outlets. "He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld."
The Texas Democrat, who has represented South Texas in Congress since 2005, now finds himself ensnared in a federal investigation less than six weeks before a high-stakes rematch against progressive primary challenger Jessica Cisneros on March 1.
"We are aware of the news regarding Congressman Cuellar and the active FBI investigation," Cisneros said in a Thursday morning statement. "We are closely watching as this develops. In the meantime, we are focused on our campaign to deliver change for South Texas families and will not be making any additional comments at this time."
