Trump says he is pardoning Democratic congressman in bribery case

December 3, 2025

President Donald Trump announced he will grant a full pardon to Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife Imelda, who face federal charges for allegedly accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani oil company and a Mexican bank. The Justice Department under former President Biden had accused Cuellar of using his congressional position to influence U.S. foreign policy toward Azerbaijan and advocate for the Mexican bank in exchange for payments that were allegedly laundered through his wife's companies. Trump claims the charges were politically motivated due to Cuellar's conservative stance on border security and immigration, despite his Democratic party affiliation.

Who is affected

Representative Henry Cuellar (Democratic congressman from Texas' 28th district)
Imelda Cuellar (Henry Cuellar's wife)
Residents and constituents of Texas' 28th congressional district
The Democratic Party and Republican Party (regarding House majority dynamics)
The Azerbaijani government-owned oil company involved
The Mexican bank involved in the allegations

What action is being taken

President Trump is issuing a "full and unconditional" pardon to Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda
Representative Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat on Wednesday morning

Why it matters

This pardon is significant because it involves a sitting member of Congress facing serious corruption charges, potentially undermining accountability for alleged bribery and foreign influence operations. The case raises questions about the use of presidential pardon power for political allies or those whose positions align with the president's views, particularly when Trump claims the charges were politically motivated retaliation. Additionally, the pardon continues a pattern of Trump granting clemency to individuals convicted of financial crimes and fraud, which may set precedents for how such cases are handled and signal that cooperation with the president's policy positions could result in legal protection.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC