U.S. President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar and his spouse in a federal bribery and conspiracy matter on Wednesday. Trump claimed the justice system had been “weaponized,” and without evidence, suggested that Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, were targeted due to the congressman’s criticism of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
In his social media posts, Trump, a Republican, lauded Cuellar for speaking out against “Open Borders” and accused Biden, a Democrat, of pursuing the congressman and his wife for speaking the “TRUTH.” Cuellar, aged 70, and his wife were accused by federal authorities of accepting money in exchange for furthering the interests of an energy company controlled by Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. The charges included allegations that Cuellar agreed to advocate for legislation favorable to Azerbaijan and deliver a pro-Azerbaijan speech in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Cuellar maintained his innocence, stating that he and his wife were not guilty. The trial for the couple, scheduled for April, had been halted due to the pardon.
Trump’s social media post announcing the pardon assured Cuellar, “Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight. Your nightmare is finally over!”
Representatives for the Cuellars and a spokesperson for Biden did not respond immediately to requests for comments. Despite the pardon, Cuellar remains under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The investigation commenced in May 2024 following his indictment and was extended in July to ensure the House’s integrity while managing dual inquiries.
Cuellar, a moderate Democrat serving in Congress for over two decades, represents a district along the Texas-Mexico border. He has a history of diverging from his party on immigration and gun control issues. Criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of the high influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, Cuellar is also known for his anti-abortion stance.
This year, Cuellar joins the ranks of Democrats pardoned by Trump, including former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich in February. Trump hinted at a political motive behind the federal corruption charges faced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, attributing it to criticisms of Biden’s immigration policies.
While the Justice Department did not pardon Adams, efforts were made to dismiss the corruption case after Trump’s administration took charge, with a senior Justice Department official, who had also represented Trump in legal matters, intervening to seek its dismissal.
