Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda, who had been facing federal charges of bribery and money laundering, have now been granted a full and unconditional pardon by President Donald Trump.
Cuellar was indicted in May 2024 following a 2022 FBI raid on his Laredo home and campaign office. According to the Justice Department, Cuellar and his wife Imelda allegedly received roughly $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities—an Azerbaijani state-owned oil and gas company and a Mexico City-based bank. Prosecutors alleged that the payments were funneled through shell companies tied to Imelda Cuellar, where little or no actual consulting work was performed. In return, Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to shape U.S. foreign policy to benefit Azerbaijan and influence federal officials and legislative activity in favor of the Mexican bank.
Two former consultants to Cuellar have already entered plea agreements acknowledging their role in laundering the money.
Trump, however, framed the case as an instance of political retaliation by the Biden administration.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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.’”
Trump accused Biden of targeting Cuellar for dissenting on border policy, adding, “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 responded with gratitude, saying, “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. Thank you Mr. President, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.”
The timing of the pardon is politically significant. A newly drawn congressional map approved by Texas lawmakers earlier this year shifted Cuellar’s seat sharply to the right, with Trump having carried the district by 10 points under the new boundaries. The fate of that new map is currently in the hands of the Supreme Court.
Cuellar, meanwhile, has maintained that he still intends to run for re-election as a Democrat.
