US President Donald Trump has announced that he will issue a full and unconditional pardon for Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar of Texas. Cuellar was charged last year with accepting approximately 600 thousand dollars in bribes along with his wife Imelda Cuellar. Both have repeatedly stated that they are innocent.
Trump made the announcement on social media, saying he did not personally know the Democratic congressman but believed the case against him was unjust. He stated that Cuellar could now rest easy because what he described as a long and difficult ordeal had come to an end. Trump also suggested that former President Joe Biden targeted the Democratic congressman because of his criticism of the administration’s border policies. Cuellar has often taken a more conservative stance on immigration compared to many in his party.
Bribery Case Democrat Congressman Pardoned By Trump In Major Political Move
Despite speculation that Cuellar might switch political parties, the Democratic congressman formally filed for reelection on Wednesday morning. His decision reinforced his commitment to remain within the Democratic Party even as his political views frequently place him on the moderate to conservative side of its ideological spectrum.
According to the Department of Justice under Biden, the Democratic congressman had received illicit payments from an Azerbaijani state controlled oil company and from a major bank in Mexico City. Prosecutors alleged that these payments were intended to influence United States foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan and to promote policies helpful to the Mexican bank. The indictment also claimed that companies operated by Imelda Cuellar were used to launder the money, which was later spent on personal expenses including credit card payments, shopping trips at wholesale stores and the purchase of a custom gown.
The charges facing the Democratic congressman and his wife included conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, money laundering and violating federal rules that prohibit acting on behalf of a foreign entity. The couple was released on bail and has maintained that they never engaged in wrongful conduct. Cuellar’s long history in Congress, representing Texas Twenty Eighth District since 2005, has often been defined by his centrist positions, especially on issues such as abortion. He has at times described himself as one of the few remaining pro life voices within the Democratic Party, stating that he believes abortion should be rare and safe.
Cuellar’s daughters also defended their father in a letter addressed to Trump. They argued that their father’s firm stance in favor of border security and his willingness to challenge party leadership may have contributed to his arrest. Trump publicly supported this explanation, writing that Biden pursued the charges against the Democratic congressman and his wife because they were outspoken and truthful.
The pardon of the Democratic congressman is Trump’s third significant act of clemency in the same week. He also pardoned former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who had been convicted in 2024 on drug trafficking and weapons charges, and commuted the sentence of David Gentile, a former investment manager convicted of fraud. Trump’s recent actions reflect an ongoing pattern of granting relief to individuals accused or convicted of financial and political crimes.
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Sorce: BBC
