WASHINGTON — President Trump on Wednesday pardoned Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his spouse Imelda, who had confronted federal bribery, cash laundering and foreign-agent costs.
Cuellar, 70, was an outspoken critic of former President Joe Biden’s border insurance policies earlier than the couple was indicted final 12 months for allegedly accepting $600,000 from Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil firm and a Mexican financial institution.
The South Texas Democrat started criticizing Biden inside weeks of him taking workplace — saying the border was not safe and demanding a presidential go to starting in March 2021, which wouldn’t occur for practically two years.
“For years, the Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System towards their Political Opponents, and anybody who disagreed with them,” Trump wrote on Reality Social.
“One of many clearest examples of this was when Crooked Joe used the FBI and DOJ to ‘take out’ a member of his personal Get together after Extremely Revered Congressman Henry Cuellar bravely spoke out towards Open Borders, and the Biden Border ‘Disaster.’
“Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman’s great spouse, Imelda, merely for talking the TRUTH. It’s unAmerican and, as I beforehand said, the Radical Left Democrats are a whole and whole risk to Democracy!” the president wrote.
“They may assault, rob, lie, cheat, destroy, and decimate anybody who dares to oppose their Far Left Agenda, an Agenda that, if left unchecked, will obliterate our magnificent Nation. Due to these info, and others, I’m hereby saying my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, however you’ll be able to sleep nicely tonight — Your nightmare is lastly over!”
Cuellar, who had confronted a doable de facto life sentence, praised Trump in his personal assertion and likewise filed for reelection to Congress — as a Democrat.
“I wish to thank President Trump for his great management and for taking the time to have a look at the info. I thank God for standing with my household and I throughout this troublesome time. This resolution clears the air and lets us transfer ahead for South Texas,” Cuellar stated. “This pardon offers us a clear slate. The noise is gone. The work stays. And I intend to fulfill it head on. Thanks Mr. President, God bless you, and God bless the USA of America.”
Cuellar was not shut with Trump throughout his first time period — voting to question him in each 2019 and 2021 — however revealed earlier this 12 months that many Trump administration officers have been looking for his enter as they launched a border crackdown.
The congressman’s house was raided by the FBI in January 2022, however he managed to be re-elected later that 12 months, heading off a left-wing major challenger, Jessica Cisneros, who was backed by socialist Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
In response to federal prosecutors, the Home Appropriations Committee member and his spouse accepted bribes between 2014 and 2021 utilizing “sham consulting contracts” and “a collection of entrance corporations and middlemen.”
These corporations allegedly have been owned by Imelda Cuellar, “who carried out little to no authentic work,” the Justice Division stated.
“In change for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gasoline firm, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to make use of his workplace to affect U.S. international coverage in favor of Azerbaijan. In change for the bribes paid by the Mexican financial institution, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to affect legislative exercise and to advise and strain high-ranking U.S. Govt Department officers relating to measures useful to the financial institution,” prosecutors stated.
Trump, who was himself indicted criminally in two separate instances by the Biden Justice Division, is sympathetic to claims of persecution by the prior administration, however Democrats looking for clemency have had combined outcomes.
Trump has not pardoned former New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who began an 11-year jail sentence in June for serving as a undercover agent of Egypt and accepting gold bars as fee. Menendez has claimed he was focused for political causes.
Trump did pardon former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich in February after commuting his jail sentence in 2020 for attempting to promote the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected president in 2008. Blagojevich, a former contestant on “The Movie star Apprentice” hosted by Trump, stated he was partaking in regular political actions.
