President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, clearing them of federal bribery and money-laundering charges stemming from an Azerbaijan-linked corruption probe.
The move came hours before Cuellar, 69, filed for reelection in his South Texas district, a competitive seat Republicans have targeted. The couple, who have denied wrongdoing, faced prison time if convicted in a trial that was set for April.
Trump announced the decision in a lengthy Truth Social post, attaching a letter from the Cuellars’ daughters, Christina and Catherine, pleading for clemency. The daughters wrote that their father obtained written legal opinions, including two from the House Ethics Committee, affirming his actions were lawful and tied to his congressional duties. They added that his criticism of Democratic border policies made him a target.
“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,” the letter read.
Trump accused the Biden administration of targeting the Cuellars “simply for speaking the TRUTH” about border security, calling it a case of a “weaponized” Justice Department going after opponents of its “Far Left Agenda.”
“Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!” Trump wrote.
Cuellar, a moderate who has represented Texas’ 28th District since 2005, thanked Trump in a statement: “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 couple was indicted in May 2024 on 14 counts, including conspiracy, bribery, honest-services wire fraud, and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Prosecutors alleged they accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from 2014 to 2021 through sham consulting contracts.
In one scheme, at least $360,000 flowed via Azerbaijan-controlled oil and gas entities to a shell company owned by Imelda and two of their children. In return, Cuellar — then co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus — allegedly influenced U.S. policy on Azerbaijan’s conflict with Armenia, inserted favorable bill language, and helped lobbyists.
A separate plot involved $238,390 from a Mexican bank, laundered through a Los Angeles media affiliate, a Texas consulting firm, and Cuellar’s former campaign manager before reaching the family shell company. Prosecutors said Cuellar pushed to weaken anti-money-laundering rules, pressured enforcement against payday lending regulations, and shared draft reports with bank officials.
The funds allegedly covered taxes, credit card debts, a $7,000 car down payment, a $12,000 custom gown, family costs, and retail spending. Small checks labeled “rent” for the couple’s owned office space funneled money into personal accounts.
In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the dismissal of two charges; a judge approved in August, delaying the trial.
Cuellar, a former Texas House member and the state’s last Democratic statewide officeholder as secretary of state in 2001, has long bucked party lines on immigration.
“Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas,” he said after the indictment, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
Christina Cuellar reminded Trump in the letter that, at a White House picnic, he said he viewed her father as “a good man.”
Cuellar confirmed no deal preceded the pardon and plans to thank Trump personally at a Christmas event. He dismissed party-switching talk, insisting “nothing has changed,” per the Associated Press.
The pardon, Trump’s latest use of clemency for political allies and others, drew mixed reactions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it “exactly the right outcome,” praising Cuellar as “a highly valued member” in a CNN interview.
