OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
FBI agents could be seen outside the home of Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar on Wednesday conducting official law enforcement activity.
Local media reported that the federal agents were at the Democrat’s home “conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity.”
“The FBI was present in the vicinity of Windridge Drive and Estate Drive in Laredo conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity. The FBI cannot provide further comment on an ongoing investigation,” FBI spokesperson Rosanne Hughes said.
Federal authorities were at the Texas home of Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar Wednesday as part of an undisclosed law enforcement investigation.
"Congressman Cuellar will fully cooperate in any investigation," the lawmaker's office said in a statement. https://t.co/dSA0PeccX5
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 20, 2022
Cuellar’s office released a statement on Wednesday night, saying, “Congressman Cuellar will fully cooperate in any investigation. He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld.”
Valerie Gonzalez, a reporter on the scene for The Monitor, said that FBI agents were snapping photographs of trucks in the driveway and said it was unclear if anyone was inside the home.
FBI still present at the home of Rep. Henry Cuellar’s in Laredo. https://t.co/CYOyJVSSGJ pic.twitter.com/N8rGyZVpNz
— Valerie Gonzalez (@ValOnTheBorder) January 19, 2022
“Agents are still in and around the home. Some more showed up a few moments ago. Can’t see what’s happening inside but some agents came outside with a clipboard and camera to snap pics of the two trucks out front,” she tweeted.
Not sure if anyone is home, but the dogs are watching. pic.twitter.com/WIYITB6WbF
— Valerie Gonzalez (@ValOnTheBorder) January 19, 2022
“Something new: Federal agents were also at the campaign HQ office this afternoon. It wasn’t included in the FBI statement, but two of the vehicles seen there at 4:20 pm later showed up at the residence. An agent wearing an FBI jacket climbed out of one,” Gonzalez tweeted.
Big bags were just loaded onto a government vehicle. pic.twitter.com/4hBjfwDsyr
— Valerie Gonzalez (@ValOnTheBorder) January 20, 2022
Cuellar, who represents Texas’ 28th district along the southern border, has been one of the most outspoken liberal critics of the Biden administration’s border policy.
Cuellar has even called for Vice President Kamala Harris to be replaced as Biden’s “border czar.”
“I’ve moved on from the vice president to say, ‘OK, let’s work with the ambassadors and let’s work with the State Department. Let’s work with the Homeland Secretary,'” Cuellar told the Washington Examiner.
“I think that’s the way to address it, but I know that the media has put a lot of focus on the vice president, but with all due respect, she was given that title. I don’t think she’s, with all due respect, put the effort in there…We’ve got to look at other folks that have the expertise on that,” Cuellar added.
Harris, who was appointed by Joe Biden to serve as the “border czar,” has been under fire for months for her failure to visit or address the crisis at the border.
Several top members of the Biden administration were in Mexico City last month for a meeting with Mexican officials regarding security along the U.S.-Mexico border — except for Harris.
Harris, whom Biden appointed in March to manage the U.S. response to the migrant crisis along the border, went to New Jersey instead.
Attending the high-level talks in Mexico’s capital were Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Harris not being present at a meeting of that many top officials speaks volumes to how she has handled the border crisis.