President Trump Pardons Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and Wife in Federal Bribery Case
President Trump pardoned Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife from federal bribery and money laundering charges, involving alleged $600,000 in foreign bribes, preventing their trial.
Jeffries gives rare praise of Trump pardoning Cuellar
Washington Examiner
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Daily Caller
Overview
- President Trump granted a full pardon to Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, preventing their scheduled federal bribery and conspiracy trial.
- The Cuellars were indicted in 2024 on charges including bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy for allegedly accepting $600,000 from foreign nationals.
- Trump justified the pardon by citing a "weaponized" justice system and Cuellar's opposition to Biden's border policy, following a clemency request.
- Rep. Cuellar expressed gratitude to President Trump and God for the "clean slate," while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also praised the decision.
- Cuellar questioned the timing of his indictment, occurring 40 days before an election, and reiterated his concerns regarding illegal border crossings.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, focusing on reporting the facts of President Trump's pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar and the context of the bribery indictment. They attribute claims of political motivation to Trump and detail the charges using legalistic language, presenting a balanced account of the event and its background without injecting editorial bias.
"This decision clears the air and lets us move forward for South Texas,” Cuellar said in the post."
ABC News"Cuellar and his wife, who posted bail after they were charged, maintain their innocence."
BBC News"Cuellar was made vulnerable after a federal indictment in May accused him and his wife of accepting bribes and money laundering."
USA TODAY"President Donald Trump pardoned Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife in a federal bribery and conspiracy case on Wednesday, citing what he called a “weaponized” justice system."
ABC News"President Trump announced the pardon for Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, on Truth Social, claiming their prosecution was the result of weaponization by the Justice Department under former President Joe Biden."
CBS News"President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he would pardon Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who was indicted last year on bribery and money laundering charges."
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FAQ
Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, were indicted on charges of bribery, money laundering, conspiracy, and acting as foreign agents. They were accused of accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes from a Mexican bank and an Azerbaijani oil company in exchange for influencing U.S. policy and legislation.
President Trump justified the pardon by claiming the justice system was 'weaponized' and cited Cuellar's opposition to President Biden's border policy. The pardon followed a clemency request and was also influenced by Cuellar's public stance on immigration issues.
The Cuellars allegedly received bribes through sham consulting contracts with shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar. Payments were laundered through intermediaries and disguised as legitimate business transactions.
Rep. Cuellar expressed gratitude to President Trump and God for the pardon, calling it a 'clean slate.' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also praised the decision, while Cuellar questioned the timing of the indictment, which occurred close to an election.
The pardon granted by President Trump prevented the Cuellars from facing trial on the federal bribery and conspiracy charges, effectively ending the legal case against them.
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