Trump Grants Full Pardon to Congressman Cuellar
Former President Donald Trump has issued a full and unconditional pardon to Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar of Texas, claiming that the justice system had been “weaponised” by President Joe Biden. The announcement was made on Wednesday via Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.
In his post, Trump wrote:
“I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar … I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!”
Cuellar, alongside his wife, had been facing multiple charges of conspiracy and bribery. Prosecutors alleged that the couple accepted bribes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars from an oil and gas company partially owned by the government of Azerbaijan. Both Cuellar and his wife have consistently denied the accusations, and their trial had been scheduled for April.
Responding to the pardon on X (formerly Twitter), Cuellar expressed his gratitude, stating:
“I want to thank President Trump for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts.”
Trump framed the pardon as part of a broader critique of the current administration, asserting—without providing evidence—that the Biden administration had misused the justice system against political opponents. He cited Cuellar’s public criticism of “Open Borders and the Biden Border ‘Catastrophe’” as a motivating factor.
Since returning to office for his second term, Trump has issued several high-profile pardons. Earlier this week, he granted clemency to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who faced decades in prison for narcotics and weapons charges. In February, Trump also pardoned Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in a political corruption case, marking a notable relief for a Democratic politician.
Key Details of Cuellar Pardon
| Individual | Charges | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Cuellar | Conspiracy, bribery | Pardoned | Alleged acceptance of bribes from Azerbaijan-linked company |
| Cuellar’s wife | Conspiracy, bribery | Pardoned | Trial had been scheduled for April |
| Trump’s rationale | Alleged politicisation of justice system | – | Cited Cuellar’s border criticism |
The pardon has sparked renewed debate over the use of presidential clemency powers and the political motivations behind such decisions. Legal analysts note that pardons of high-profile politicians, particularly across party lines, remain highly unusual in contemporary American politics.