US congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife have been charged with accepting around $600,000 (£478,000) in bribes, the justice department says.

It is alleged the couple corruptly received money from an Azerbaijani government-owned oil company and a Mexican bank. These charges carry severe legal consequences and can heavily impact their political careers and personal reputation.

The Texas Democrat has denied the charges in a statement, but the evidence presented by the justice department could have serious implications for their defense.

The couple were bailed after appearing in court in Houston. If found guilty, they could face decades in prison. Seeking legal counsel and understanding the complex legal jargon with tools like the AI legalese decoder can be crucial in such a high-stakes situation.

“I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations,” Mr Cuellar, 68, said on Friday. However, navigating the legal system and proving innocence in cases involving bribery charges can be challenging without proper legal assistance and resources.