In a controversial move, former President Donald Trump has decided to pardon a prominent liberal congressman embroiled in a bribery scandal, sparking a fresh wave of political debate. On Wednesday morning, Trump took to social media to announce his intention to grant clemency to Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda. The couple faced serious charges from the Department of Justice last year, accused of accepting $600,000 in bribes from a Mexican bank and an oil and gas company based in Azerbaijan. These funds were allegedly channeled through shell companies managed by Imelda, with assistance from their adult daughters, Christy and Catie, according to the DOJ’s indictment.

Trump justified his intervention by framing it as a defense against political persecution. He claimed that Cuellar and his wife were targeted due to their outspoken criticism of former President Joe Biden’s border policies. On Truth Social, Trump argued that the Biden administration had weaponized the Justice System against political adversaries and described Cuellar as a victim of such practices. He wrote, “For years, the Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System against their Political Opponents, and anyone who disagreed with them. One of the clearest examples of this was when Crooked Joe used the FBI and DOJ to ‘take out’ a member of his own Party after Highly Respected Congressman Henry Cuellar bravely spoke out against Open Borders, and the Biden Border ‘Catastrophe.'”

The Department of Justice had contended in its charges that Cuellar misused his position to advance the interests of Azerbaijan and the foreign bank within the United States. A conviction on all charges could have resulted in life sentences for the Cuellars. Trump further criticized Democrats, accusing them of engaging in “un-American” activities designed to crush dissent against their perceived radical agenda. Accompanying Trump’s social media post was a heartfelt letter from the Cuellars’ daughters, Catie and Christina, appealing to the former president to intervene on behalf of their beleaguered parents.

‘Because of these facts, and others, I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!’ Cuellar thanked the president for the pardon in a post on X on Wednesday morning. ‘I want to thank President Trump for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts. I thank God for standing with my family and I during this difficult time. This decision clears the air and lets us move forward for South Texas.’ ‘This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains. And I intend to meet it head on,’ Cuellar’s statement continued.

Despite not knowing the liberal congressman, Trump has spoken out in his defense on multiple occasions. Shortly after Biden’s DOJ announced charges against the Cuellars on May 3, 2024, the Republican railed against the congressman’s prosecution. ‘Biden just Indicted Henry Cuellar because the Respected Democrat Congressman wouldn’t play Crooked Joe’s Open Border game,’ Trump posted on social media two days after the charges were announced. According to the DOJ, the Cuellars’ alleged scheme ran ‘at least’ from December 2014 to November 2021.

The couple faced up to 204 years in prison if convicted on all counts. The allegedly funneled money was said to have been spent on credit cards, cars, and tax payments, as well as dining and shopping, including a $12,000 gown. The Texas Democrat’s home was raided by the FBI in January 2022 as part of an investigation into his ties to Azerbaijani businessmen. Cuellar insisted at the time: ‘I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations.’ The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s inquiry about the pardon.