TEXAS — President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he pardoned U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, on Wednesday.
What You Need To Know
In his post, Trump claimed that former President Joe Biden and his administration “weaponized” the justice system against his political opponents
Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, were indicted on federal bribery and conspiracy charges in May 2024 for allegedly accepting bribes from an oil and gas company controlled by the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank in exchange for trying to influence U.S. foreign policy
The longtime congressman has previously denied any wrongdoing, and the couple had pleaded not guilty. With the pardon, the Cuellars will not face any legal consequences in the case
Cuellar has represented part of South Texas in Congress for over 20 years. On Wednesday, Cuellar officially filed for reelection as a Democrat
In his post, Trump claimed that former President Joe Biden and his administration “weaponized” the justice system against his political opponents.
“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,’” Trump said. “Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman’s wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the TRUTH. … 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 a post on X, Cuellar thanked Trump for the pardon saying it gives him a “clean slate.”
“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,” said Cuellar.
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.
This pardon gives us a… pic.twitter.com/ajNvHq6rG0
— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) December 3, 2025
Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, were indicted on federal bribery and conspiracy charges in May 2024 for allegedly accepting bribes from an oil and gas company controlled by the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank in exchange for trying to influence U.S. foreign policy. They originally faced 14 counts—including conspiracy, bribery and money laundering—but a judge in August dismissed two of the charges and pushed the trial to next year.
The longtime congressman has previously denied any wrongdoing, and the couple had pleaded not guilty. With the pardon, the Cuellars will not face any legal consequences in the case.
Cuellar has represented part of South Texas in Congress for over 20 years. On Wednesday, Cuellar officially filed for reelection as a Democrat.
Cuellar is not the only Democrat Trump has pardoned this year. In February, he pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, five years after he had commuted his sentence in a political corruption case.
Like in Cuellar’s case, Trump suggested that New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, faced federal corruption charges because he made comments critical of Biden’s immigration policies.
Trump did not pardon Adams, but after Trump took office, the Justice Department moved to drop the case against the mayor, who had begun working with the Republican administration on immigration issues. A top Justice Department official, who was also Trump’s defense lawyer in several of his cases, stepped in to seek dismissal in the case.