Category: Tweets – Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

#SouthCaucasus
#Trump pardons Democratic Rep. Henry  #Cuellar in shock move

“Full and unconditional” pardon for Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, in a federal bribery and conspiracy case. Trump stated the pair were unfairly targeted by the Justice Department for Cuellar’s criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies.President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a …
Key Details
Charges: In 2024, Cuellar and his wife were indicted on 14 counts, accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from an oil company controlled by the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank in exchange for the congressman advancing their interests. The couple consistently maintained their innocence.
Trump’s Reasoning: In a social media post, Trump claimed that the “Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System” against a member of its own party after Cuellar “bravely spoke out against Open Borders”. Trump described the pardon as an end to their “nightmare”.
Cuellar’s Response: Rep. Cuellar thanked Trump “for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts,” adding that the pardon gives them a “clean slate”.
Political Context: Cuellar is a moderate Democrat who has frequently been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s handling of immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. This is not the first time this year that Trump has pardoned a Democrat; in February, he pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
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— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 3, 2025