Trump says he will pardon Democratic congressmen implicated in bribery case

US President Donald Trump said he would pardon Henry Cuellar, the Democratic congressman who was accused last year of accepting about $600,000 (£478,000) in bribes.

Trump said on social media that he would “fully and unconditionally” pardon the Texas congressman and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, who was also charged in the case.

“Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight – your nightmare is finally over!” the Republican president wrote.

He added that he believed Cuellar was being accused by former President Joe Biden because of his “courage in speaking out against open borders.” Cuellar and his wife were released on bail after being charged, maintaining their innocence.

Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat on Wednesday morning, quashing speculation that he might be preparing to switch parties and solidify the Republican Party’s slim majority in the House.

Biden’s Justice Department alleges that Cuellar, who has represented Texas’ 28th Congressional District since 2005, illegally received funds from an Azerbaijani government-owned oil company and a Mexican bank.

In exchange for the money, Cuellar agreed to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan and advocate for measures that would benefit Mexico City banks, the indictment said.

Companies owned by Imelda Cuellar allegedly laundered the money, which the family used to pay debts and make purchases.

That included $58,000 (£46,000) paid by credit card, $18,000 from wholesale stores and $12,000 for custom-made dresses, the indictment said.

The couple faces charges of conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, money laundering and violating a ban on serving as agents of a foreign organization.

Although Cuellar is a Democrat, his political views are to the right of many members of the party.

He has been called “the last anti-abortion Democrat” because of his moderate stance on abortion.

“My belief is clear: Abortion must be rare and safe,” he has said in the past.

In a letter to Trump, Cuellar’s daughters also said they believe their father’s stance on immigration may have contributed to his arrest.

They wrote that their father believed in “securing the border” and that his “independence and honesty” may have been the reason for his indictment.

Trump seemed to agree, saying on The Truth Society that Biden “went after members of Congress, even Imelda, the Congressman’s wonderful wife, just for telling the truth.”

This is Trump’s third clemency offer this week.

He pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in March 2024 of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and possessing machine guns.

On Monday, Trump also commuted the sentence of former investment manager David Gentile, who was just days away from a seven-year sentence for fraud.

So far in his second term, the president has pardoned or commuted the sentences of multiple people convicted of various fraud or financial crimes.