Henry Cuellar becomes latest Democrat to distance himself from Koch Industries over company’s Russia ties

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) speaks on southern border security and illegal immigration, during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 30, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Henry Cuellar is no longer accepting campaign contributions from Koch Industries after the conglomerate decided to remain in Russia despite the ongoing war with Ukraine.

Jake Hochberg, a chief advisor for Congressman Cuellar, told CNBC in an email that the congressman has not received any money from the Koch Brothers this year and will not accept any future campaign contributions until they disassociate from Russia.

CNBC first reported on two other Democratic lawmakers who said they stopped taking campaign contributions from Koch after the company refused to cut its operations in Russia. Many other business are leaving Russia because of sanctions by the U.S. and its allies.

Koch Industries President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Robertson said in a statement last week that the company would remain active despite the war in Russia. Robertson said in the statement that they will not walk away from their employees or hand over the manufacturing facilities to the Russian government.

The Democrats who have received money from Koch Industries represent a small percentage of the $500,000 in donations the company's political action committee has given to Republican candidates.

Not a single Republican lawmaker on Capitol Hill that was part of the Koch Industries donation campaign has said they will stop taking their money. Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch was one of the top donors to his company.

In the latest two-year election cycle, Cuellar is the top recipient of donations from Koch Industries. The data from the Center for Responsive Politics shows that Cuellar's campaign has taken in $8,500 from the political action committee. The Federal Election Commission shows that the corporate PAC gave three separate contributions to Cuellar. He is going into a second election with a progressive challenger.

The FBI raided his Texas home in January. There was a raid on companies and organizations with ties to Azerbaijan.

The Texas congressperson has a history with the Koch political network.

Cisneros received support from the Koch network and Americans for Prosperity Action during his last successful bid for reelection in 2020. FEC records show a $3 million donation by Koch Industries last month.

The Texas chapters of Americans for Prosperity and the separate Koch-backed Libre Initiative cheered on Cisneros, as well as Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, for introducing an immigration bill that the lawmakers say will improve both the Department of Homeland Security.