NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump announced a “full and unconditional pardon” Wednesday for Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and his wife, Imelda.
“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 wrote on Truth Social.
“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,” Trump continued. “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 January 2024, Cuellar warned fellow Democrats, including President Biden, to prepare for border security to be a top election issue in the 2024 cycle.
DEMOCRAT CUELLAR WARNS BIDEN: BORDER CRISIS WILL ‘ABSOLUTELY’ BE ELECTION ISSUE IN 2024
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, is seen in the U.S. Capitol on June 4, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“If they’re looking at the same polls I’ve been looking at, the American public doesn’t like what’s happening,” Cuellar said of fellow Democrats in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“I represent an area where it’s almost 80% Hispanic, a lot of Democrats,” he said. “So, yeah, the polls are showing that it’s an important issue.”
FLASHBACK: WE ‘NEED TO HAVE REPERCUSSIONS AT THE BORDER,’ CUELLAR SAYS
Rep. Henry Cuellar was under scrutiny for being on the DCCC’s focus list for the 2026 election. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Speaking of Biden, he said, “It’s in the president’s best interest politically to come up with a solution on border security.”
The Department of Justice under the Biden administration indicted Cuellar and his wife in May 2024 for allegedly taking roughly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-owned energy company and a Mexican bank, according to a news release at the time.
“The bribe payments were allegedly laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, who performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts,” the Justice Department said. “In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank.”
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, spoke with Fox News Digital in early 2024 along the Rio Grande during a bipartisan congressional delegation to the border. (Elizabeth Elkind)
Cuellar said following the pardon on Wednesday that, “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,” he added. “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.”
In Trump’s post on Wednesday, he shared a letter to him apparently written by Cuellar’s daughters, titled, “Request for Compassion and Clemency for our Parents, Henry and Imelda Cuellar.”
“Our parents are good, decent people who have spent their lives giving more than they’ve taken. They have loved this country deeply, served their neighbors without hesitation, and raised us to believe that kindness, faith, and hard work are the true measures of a meaningful life,” the letter said. “Now, in the later years of their lives, all we want as their daughters is time — time to be with them, to share laughter and family dinners, and to see them live without the weight of worry. We hope they can one day retire peacefully and focus on family, faith, and the simple joys they have earned through a lifetime of service. All we want now is for our family to heal, to breathe freely again, and to see our parents’ good names restored.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“With all our hearts, we humbly ask that you show mercy and compassion to our parents — either by dismissing this case or granting a full and unconditional pardon,” the letter also said. “We speak not only as their children but also as Americans who believe in the goodness of this country and in your ability to see the human side of every story.”
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.