President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), claiming that his bribery and conspiracy case was an example of how the Biden administration "weaponized the justice system against political opponents."
Trump, in a lengthy social media pos,t announced the "full and unconditional pardon" of Cuellar and his wife Amelda.
The president described Cuellar, 68, as a highly respected congressman who fell victim to his own party when he spoke out against open borders.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) in May 2024 launched a probe into the couple’s ties to the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan.
From 2014 to 2021, alleged prosecutors, Cuellar and his wife accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. Cuellar allegedly agreed to advance the interests of the country and the bank in the United States, according to the indictment, the DOJ alleged at the time.
NTD reached out to Biden's spokesperson, Kelly Scully, seeking comment, but did not receive a response by publication.
After they were arrested, they were each released on $100,000 bond.
The congressman and his wife have long maintained their innocence.
In his statement, Trump added: "Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!"
Cuellar expressed gratitude to the president for the pardon.
The couple had faced up to decades in prison and forfeiture of any property linked to proceeds from the alleged scheme. Their trial was set to begin next April.
The president has broad power under the United States Constitution to grant pardons for federal crimes. The pardons don’t erase an individual's criminal record, but can be seen as a presidential act of mercy or justice.