A growing number of House lawmakers are the subject of or involved in federal investigations.
The unrelated investigations concern both Republicans and Democrats. And along with any legal moves by federal enforcement, the cases may leave some of the members vulnerable in their primary elections this year. In two of three known cases, the districts could flip party control. That’s notable in a political environment in which House Republicans need to net only five seats in the 435-seat chamber to win back a majority since losing it in the 2018 midterm elections.
Henry Cuellar
Last week, the FBI raided both Rep. Henry Cuellar’s home and campaign office amid a federal investigation into the former Soviet state of Azerbaijan and a group of U.S. businessmen with ties to the country.
It was not clear if Cuellar was a target of the investigation. A Cuellar spokesperson said last week that the congressman “will fully cooperate in any investigation. He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld.”
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The Texas Democrat has been a House member since 2005, and he was recently a co-chairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
Cuellar is a more centrist Democrat than many in his party and represents a border-area district. He has sometimes bucked his party on issues such as gun rights. He faces a primary challenge from the Left on March 1 from immigration attorney and progressive Jessica Cisneros. Cuellar has not been charged with a crime in the FBI’s investigation, but some liberal activists told Buzzfeed that uncertainty surrounding Cuellar may help Cisneros.
House Republicans also are eyeing a new opportunity to flip another Democratic-held district if Cuellar wins renomination and is the target of a federal investigation and the inquiry extends deep into the election year or if Cisneros knocks off Cuellar in the primary, making the Democratic standard-bearer a far-left Democrat in the Rio Grande Valley region, where former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans made significant gains in the 2020 elections.
Matt Gaetz
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz faces a federal investigation into whether he violated sex trafficking laws, had sex with a minor and paid for her to travel with him, and obstructed justice during the investigation. Gaetz has denied the allegations and claimed he is the victim of an extortion plot.
An ex-girlfriend of Gaetz was granted immunity before her testimony to a federal grand jury investigating the allegations.
Joel Greenberg, a former political ally of Gaetz, pleaded guilty to six federal charges last year, admitting to paying a minor for sex. Greenberg reportedly introduced Gaetz to the 17-year-old at the center of the allegations.
Jeff Fortenberry
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry was charged in October with lying to the FBI during its investigation into campaign contributions from a Nigerian billionaire. Earlier this month, a federal judge rejected Fortenberry’s request to dismiss the charges and is scheduled to face trial next month in Los Angeles.
The Nebraska Republican has denied the allegation and said he sought to cooperate with the investigation.
The investigation concerned contributions from Gilbert Chagoury, who made the illegal donation to Fortenberry’s campaign through a middleman.
While the case plays out, Fortenberry has had to step down from congressional committee work per House rules, including his seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
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Fortenberry has held the 1st Congressional District since 2005, but the charges add a level of uncertainty to the race for the once-safe seat because Fortenberry may be newly vulnerable to either a Republican primary opponent or a Democratic challenger in a general election. State Sen. Mike Flood will challenge Fortenberry in a May 10 primary.
