“US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, December 3, used his right to pardon a member of the House of Representatives from the Democratic Party, Henry Cuellar, and his wife, Imelda. The couple appeared in a high-profile federal case of bribery and conspiracy in the interests of foreign entities.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Henry Cuellar. Photo: Getty Images Source: Associated Press
Details: The head of the White House explained his decision by the fact that, in his opinion, the American justice system has become “weaponized” and biased.
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Trump, who has previously called his own problems with the law political persecution, said on social media that Kular was allegedly targeted by law enforcement because of his criticism of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Trump accused the Democrats of persecuting the politician “for the truth.” At the same time, the president did not provide any evidence to confirm this version.
Federal prosecutors charged Henry Cuellar and his wife with accepting bribes. According to the investigation, in exchange for money, the congressman promoted the interests of an energy company and a bank controlled by Azerbaijan. In particular, he was accused of agreeing to influence legislation in favor of Baku and making pro-Azerbaijani speeches in the House of Representatives.
Kular, talking to reporters outside his office in Washington, thanked the president for this decision.
“We will continue to work hard,” he briefly commented on the situation.
It’s worth noting that under the US Constitution, the president has broad pardoning powers for federal crimes. This procedure does not invalidate the criminal record, but is considered an act of mercy.
Despite the pardon, Cuellar is still under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. This investigation began in May 2024, immediately after the allegations were made, and was renewed in July 2025. The Committee stated that they maintain contact with the Ministry of Justice to avoid the risks of a double investigation.
Prehistory:
- In 2025, Trump has already carried out a number of high-profile pardons. Among those pardoned are dozens of Republicans accused of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, as well as more than 1,500 people accused of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
- In February, a similar decision was made regarding the ex-governor of Illinois, Rod Blagoevich, who was convicted of corruption.
- Trump also pardoned the former governor of Connecticut, an ex-congressman from the Republican Party and reality show stars convicted of financial fraud.