Pardoned Democrat Henry Cuellar Files for Re-election, Drawing Trump's Ire Over Party Loyalty
Rep. Henry Cuellar, pardoned by Trump from bribery charges, is running for re-election as a Democrat, drawing Trump's criticism for his continued party affiliation.
Overview
Donald Trump pardoned Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife from bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering charges, which they faced following an indictment in May 2024.
The clemency for Cuellar and his wife was granted by Trump after a formal request was made by their daughters amidst the serious corruption allegations.
Despite receiving the pardon, Rep. Cuellar, a conservative Democrat representing Texas' 28th district since 2005, announced his intention to run for re-election as a Democrat.
President Trump publicly criticized Cuellar for his "lack of loyalty" and for not switching parties after the pardon, with both accusing each other of political targeting.
Cuellar maintains his innocence and expressed gratitude for the pardon, stating his willingness to work with the Trump administration while firmly remaining within the Democratic Party.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, primarily reporting on President Trump's public criticism of Rep. Henry Cuellar and Cuellar's subsequent response. They focus on presenting the facts of the situation, including the pardon, the bribery charges, and the political context, without injecting evaluative language or prioritizing one perspective over another in their editorial voice.
Sources (14)
Center (7)
FAQ
Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were charged with bribery, conspiracy, money laundering, acting as unregistered foreign agents under FARA, and honest-services wire fraud conspiracy, involving allegations of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities including an Azerbaijani state-owned oil company and a Mexican bank.
Donald Trump pardoned Henry Cuellar and his wife following a request from their daughters amidst the bribery charges, while criticizing Cuellar publicly for lacking loyalty due to his decision to remain a Democrat rather than switching parties after the pardon.
Rep. Cuellar maintained his innocence regarding the bribery charges, expressed gratitude for the pardon, affirming his willingness to work with the Trump administration but firmly decided to remain within the Democratic Party.
The alleged bribery scheme involved Cuellar accepting payments funneled through sham consulting contracts and shell companies owned by his wife, in exchange for influencing U.S. legislative and foreign policy to benefit an Azerbaijani oil company and a Mexican bank.
History
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