WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump on Sunday defended his decision to pardon Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife Imelda but sharply criticized the congressman for choosing to run for reelection as a Democrat in 2026. Cuellar and his wife were indicted last year on federal bribery charges before Trump announced their pardon in late November.
In a Truth Social post, Trump accused Cuellar of showing “such a lack of loyalty” by remaining in the Democratic Party, despite claiming that Democratic officials sought harsh penalties against the congressman and his family. Trump said he issued the pardon in part after receiving a letter from Cuellar’s daughters, who urged the president to intervene.
Cuellar filed to run for another term shortly after the pardon was announced. His office has not publicly commented on Trump’s criticism.
The Justice Department previously charged Cuellar with accepting payments connected to entities tied to Azerbaijan’s government and a Mexican bank. A federal judge dismissed two of the 14 counts in August, and the remaining charges are set for trial in 2026.
Trump has argued that Cuellar was targeted for criticizing the Biden administration’s immigration policies, saying the indictment followed his public disagreement with the White House. Asked whether the pardon could bolster Cuellar politically, Trump said it “didn’t matter,” adding that he believed the congressman had been “treated very badly.”
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
