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Thursday, December 4, 2025

Trump pardons Democrat congressman Henry Cuellar amid bribery charges

He dismissed the prosecution of Mr Cuellar as a political witch-hunt orchestrated by former President Joe Biden.

• December 3, 2025
CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR AND WIFE (IMELDA CUELLAR)
CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR AND WIFE, IMELDA CUELLAR [Credit: X]

United States President Donald Trump has pardoned Democratic Party Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, over $600,000 bribery allegations linked to Azerbaijani and Mexican companies, ending a Biden-era probe into the couple.

Mr Trump announced the decision in a Wednesday statement on Truth Social, dismissing the prosecution of Mr Cuellar as a political witch-hunt orchestrated by former President Joe Biden, whom the lawmaker regularly criticised over various policies, including the border crisis.

“For years, the Biden administration weaponised the Justice System against their political opponents, and anyone who disagreed with them,” Trump said. “One of the clearest examples of this was when crooked Joe used the FBI and DOJ to ‘take out’ a member of his own party after Highly Respected Congressman Henry Cuellar bravely spoke out against open borders, and the Biden border catastrophe.”

Mr Cuellar was first arrested alongside his wife in May 2024 by federal authorities before eventually being charged with accepting bribes to the tune of $600,000 from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico in exchange for influencing legislation favourable to Azerbaijan and delivering a pro-Azerbaijan speech on the floor of the U.S. House.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and a trial had been set to begin next April before Mr Trump’s intervention.

Speaking further, Mr Trump claimed, “Sleepy Joe went after the congressman, and even the congressman’s wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the truth. It is unAmerican and, as I previously stated, the radical left Democrats are a complete and total threat to democracy!

“They will attack, rob, lie, cheat, destroy, and decimate anyone who dares to oppose their far-left agenda, an agenda that, if left unchecked, will obliterate our magnificent country. Because of these facts, and others, I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional pardon of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!”

In his reaction announcement, Mr Cuellar thanked Mr Trump for issuing him a pardon, noting that the decision will give him a clean slate as he continues to represent his constituents in Congress.

“I want to thank President Trump for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts. I thank God for standing with my family and I during this difficult time. This decision clears the air and lets us move forward for South Texas,” Mr Cuellar said. “This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains. And I intend to meet it head on. Thank you Mr. President, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.”

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