President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, Dec. 3, that he has pardoned Texas congressman Henry Cuellar.
Cuellar, considered one of the most conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, won with 11 votes.th His term ends in November 2024, despite facing federal indictments on charges of accepting foreign bribes.
“For years, the Biden administration has weaponized the judicial system against political opponents and those who disagree with them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The Democratic Radical Left is a complete and utter threat to democracy! They will attack, rob, lie, deceive, destroy, and massacre anyone who dares to oppose their far-left agenda. This agenda, if left unchecked, will wipe out our great country.”
“Based on these and other facts, I hereby announce a full and unconditional pardon for my beloved Texas Representative Henry Cuellar and Imelda,” Trump wrote. “Henry, I don’t know about you, but please sleep well tonight. Your nightmare is finally over!”
Mr. Queriel has been elected to the Texas House of Representatives eight times and was first elected to Congress in 2004, but his position was thrown into jeopardy in May when he and his wife were indicted by the federal government on charges of bribery and money laundering.
Prosecutors accused Mr. Cuellar of receiving about $600,000 from a company with ties to the Azerbaijani government and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The indictment says the bribes were laundered through a shell company owned by Imelda Cuellar.
This is a developing story.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund
