Trump Issues Surprise Pardon for Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar

President Donald Trump iIssued a ss Surprise full pardon to TexasPardon for Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife, halting their upcoming federal bribery trial and igniting a new political firestorm in Washington.

Prosecutors had accused the couple of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from an Azerbaijan-linked energy company in exchange for pro-Azerbaijan policy influence inside Congress, allegations both strongly denied.

Trump framed the pardon as a correction to what he called a “weaponized” justice system under Joe Biden, adding that Cuellar was targeted for criticizing the administration’s immigration and border policies.

Cuellar publicly thanked Trump, calling the decision an act of fairness based on facts. The move follows a series of high-profile pardons in Trump’s second term—including former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández and former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich.