Former President Donald Trump pardoned Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, on Wednesday. He claimed the couple faced a politically motivated prosecution. Trump said federal officials targeted Cuellar because he criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Prosecutors had accused the couple of accepting payments from an Azerbaijan-linked energy company and a Mexican bank. They said Cuellar agreed to support the foreign company’s interests and planned a pro-Azerbaijan speech in Congress. Cuellar denied all wrongdoing and maintained that he and his wife followed the law.
Trump posted the pardon announcement on social media. He praised Cuellar for opposing “open borders.” He also shared a letter written by Cuellar’s daughters, who asked him to pardon their parents. Cuellar later thanked Trump and said he was ready to return to work.
Trump also pardoned business executive Timothy J. Leiweke, who faced charges for allegedly rigging a bidding process in Texas. Leiweke had pleaded not guilty.
Cuellar still faces a House Ethics Committee investigation. He filed for reelection earlier in the day and said he would remain a Democrat. Cuellar has often broken with his party on immigration and abortion, and he represents a district along the Texas-Mexico border.
