WASHINGTON — President Trump expressed angry regret over his eyebrow-raising pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar last Wednesday after the pol quickly confirmed his reelection plans as a Democrat.
Cuellar (D-Texas), 70, who sits in one of the House Democrats’ most competitive seats faced federal bribery, money laundering, and foreign-agent charges for allegedly taking $600,000 from Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company and a Mexican bank.
“Only a short time after signing the Pardon, Congressman Henry Cuellar announced that he will be ‘running’ for Congress again, in the Great State of Texas (a State where I received the highest number of votes ever recorded!), as a Democrat,” Trump raged in a lengthy Truth Social post.
“Such a lack of LOYALTY, something that Texas Voters, and Henry’s daughters, will not like. Oh’ well, next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!”
Trump’s pardon of Cuellar, a rare, moderately pro-life Democrat, had perplexed many Republicans. Cuellar’s seat in Texas’ 28th Congressional District is rated as one of six House Democrat-held toss-up races by election handicapper Cook Political Report.
By pardoning the Texas Democrat, who was indicted by the Biden-era Justice Department, Trump, 79, seemingly undermined a golden pickup opportunity for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.
Since 2004, Cuellar has survived numerous tough challenges from Republicans and Democratic primary contenders alike.
Trump’s pardon had drawn praise from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“This indictment was very thin to begin with, in my view,” Jeffries told CNN. “I don’t know why the president decided to do this. I think the outcome was exactly the right outcome.”
The president shed light on his decision to give Cuellar an unconditional pardon by posting a letter he received from the rep’s daughters last month begging him to spare their father.
They pointed to Cuellar’s outspoken criticism of former President Joe Biden’s border policies and alleged his bluntness about the ex-prez may have been a factor in his indictment.
“We also believe that our father’s independence and honesty may have contributed to how this case began,” they wrote before later adding: “With all our hearts, we humbly ask that you show mercy and compassion to our parents.”
Cuellar, who voted to impeach Trump twice during his first term, was accused of taking bribes between 2014 and 2021 via “sham consulting contracts” and “a series of front companies and middlemen.”
Those firms were owned by Cuellar’s wife, Imelda, who “performed little to no legitimate work,” the Justice Department alleged.
The South Texas Democrat confirmed his reelection plans to reporters shortly after Trump announced the pardon.
“The Dems were vicious, and all because Henry strongly wanted, correctly, BORDER SECURITY! He was against illegals pouring into our Country, totally unchecked and unvetted,” Trump added on Truth Social.
“It was all very unfair what they were doing to him and his family, so much so that his daughters wrote me a beautiful letter about their parents,” Trump continued.
“I never spoke to the Congressman, his wife, or his daughters, but felt very good about fighting for a family that was tormented by very sick and deranged people.”
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