A judge has granted a request by federal prosecutors to dismiss two of the 14 counts that U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife face.

Irada Akhoundova pleaded guilty to facilitating a $60,000 payment to Imelda Cuellar, the congressman’s wife, that she believed would benefit Azerbaijan and its state-run oil company.

The 28th Congressional District race was one of three seats in South Texas where Republicans hoped to make gains in a region Democrats have long dominated.