Dean Phillips is the first Democrat to ask Henry Cuellar to step down

Rep. Dean Phillips from Minnesota has called for Rep. Henry Cuellar from Texas to resign after Cuellar was indicted by the Department of Justice. Phillips emphasized the importance of trust in government and stated that officials under indictment should step down. Cuellar faces charges of bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering for allegedly accepting bribes from the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. The indictment accuses Cuellar and his wife of receiving almost $600,000 in exchange for political favors. While Cuellar and his wife could potentially face a 200-year prison sentence, they were released on bond after appearing in court. Cuellar’s reelection prospects may be impacted by the indictment, as his seat is considered “likely Democratic”. The situation is reminiscent of Sen. Bob Menendez’s trial for bribery and former President Donald Trump’s trial for alleged payments to Stormy Daniels.