Trump to pardon Democratic congressman

Donald Trump has announced he is pardoning a sitting liberal congressman charged with bribery and acting as a foreign agent. The President posted on social media on Wednesday morning that he would grant clemency to Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda. Cuellar and his wife were charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) last year for allegedly accepting $600,000 in bribes from a bank headquartered in Mexico and an oil and gas company in Azerbaijan . They were reportedly funneled through shell companies owned by Imelda. The DOJ indictment, brought last year, stated that the Cuellars' adult children, Christy and Catie, aided in creating these firms to launder funds.

Trump stepped in, claiming the couple were personally persecuted because of their opposition to ex-President Joe Biden 's liberal border policies. He wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: 'For years, the Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System against their Political Opponents, and anyone who disagreed with them. '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."'

The DOJ had claimed: 'Cuellar promised to use the power and prestige of his office to advance Azerbaijan’s and Foreign Bank-1’s interests in the United States.' If convicted on all counts, the couple would have spent the rest of their lives behind bars. Trump also accused Democrats of 'un-American' activity for trying to 'decimate anyone who dares to oppose their Far Left Agenda.' Attached to the president's post was a letter from the Cuellars' daughters, Catie and Christina. In the note, they pleaded with the President to help their embattled parents.

'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!' Cuellar thanked the president for the pardon in a post on X on Wednesday morning. '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 clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains. And I intend to meet it head on,' Cuellar's statement continued.

Despite not knowing the liberal congressman, Trump has spoken out in his defense on multiple occasions. Shortly after Biden's DOJ announced charges against the Cuellars on May 3, 2024, the Republican railed against the congressman's prosecution. 'Biden just Indicted Henry Cuellar because the Respected Democrat Congressman wouldn’t play Crooked Joe’s Open Border game,' Trump posted on social media two days after the charges were announced. According to the DOJ, the Cuellars' alleged scheme ran 'at least' from December 2014 to November 2021.

The couple faced up to 204 years in prison if convicted on all counts. The allegedly funneled money was said to have been spent on credit cards, cars, and tax payments, as well as dining and shopping, including a $12,000 gown. The Texas Democrat's home was raided by the FBI in January 2022 as part of an investigation into his ties to Azerbaijani businessmen. Cuellar insisted at the time: 'I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations.' The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's inquiry about the pardon.