Trump Announces Pardon for Congressman Cuellar Amid Bribery Charges

Sat Dec 20 2025 12:19:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising move, President Trump has declared his intention to pardon Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar, recently charged with bribery. Cuellar and his wife maintain their innocence as they contend with the legal implications of the charges.

President Trump has announced he will pardon Congressman Henry Cuellar, who faces bribery charges involving approximately $600,000 in illicit funds. Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, claims that his indictment was politically motivated due to his stance on immigration. This pardon is part of a series of clemency actions taken by Trump, who continues to navigate his second term's controversial issues.

US President Donald Trump has said he will pardon Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar, who was charged last year with accepting around $600,000 (£478,000) in bribes.

On social media, Trump said he would issue a full and unconditional pardon of the Texas representative and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, who was also charged in the case.

Henry, I don't know you, but you can sleep well tonight - Your nightmare is finally over! the president, a Republican, wrote.

He added that he thought Cuellar was charged by former President Joe Biden because he bravely spoke out against Open Borders. Cuellar and his wife, who posted bail after being charged, maintain their innocence.

On Wednesday morning, Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat, putting to rest speculation about a potential party switch to bolster the Republicans' narrow majority in the House.

Biden's Department of Justice alleged that Cuellar, representing Texas' 28th congressional district since 2005, receive illicit funds from an Azerbaijani government-owned oil company and a Mexican bank.

The indictment claims Cuellar agreed to leverage US foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan and promote measures benefiting the Mexican financial institution.

Allegations against Imelda Cuellar include laundering activities involving the funds, which were used to settle debts and make purchases, such as $58,000 (£46,000) in credit card payments and a custom gown worth $12,000.

The couple faced charges including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, money laundering, and violations against acting as agents of a foreign entity.

Despite being a Democrat, Cuellar's views are considered more conservative than many of his colleagues, particularly on issues like abortion, earning him the title of the last pro-life Democrat.

In a letter to Trump, Cuellar's daughters suggested that their father's immigration views may have contributed to his indictment, emphasizing his commitment to border security and truthfulness.

Trump echoed these sentiments, asserting that Cuellar was targeted by Biden for expressing the truth. This marks Trump's third clemency action in a week, following pardons for other individuals involved in serious charges, indicating a pattern of supporting individuals convicted of financial crimes during his presidency.