Cuellar, 70, had been indicted last year after prosecutors accused the couple of accepting $600,000 from Azerbaijan’s state-run oil company and a Mexican financial institution. The charges alleged that the payments were routed through shell companies in exchange for political favors.

A Democrat Who Frequently Criticized Biden on the Border

While Cuellar is a Democrat, he often broke with his party — especially during President Joe Biden’s term.

Within weeks of Biden taking office in early 2021, Cuellar began publicly warning that the southern border was not secure, pushing the White House to pay more attention to the surge in crossings. He repeatedly urged Biden to visit the border, a trip the president didn’t make until nearly two years later.

Cuellar’s criticism earned him a reputation as one of the few Democrats willing to openly challenge Biden’s border approach, especially during times when Texas communities were overwhelmed by migrant arrivals.

Trump Accuses Biden of Weaponizing Law Enforcement

In his announcement on Truth Social, Trump framed the pardon as a response to what he described as political persecution by the Biden administration.

“For years, the Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System against their political opponents and anyone who dared to disagree,” Trump wrote.
Trump argued that Cuellar became a target after he criticized the administration’s border strategy.

He claimed the indictment served as an example of federal agencies — including the DOJ and FBI — being used to silence dissent.
Trump: Case Was Meant to Punish Cuellar for Speaking Out.

Trump’s statement went further, accusing Biden of trying to “take out” a member of his own party who refused to support what Trump called the White House’s “open borders” policies.

He said that both Cuellar and his wife Imelda were unfairly pursued simply for “speaking the truth,” calling the indictment “un-American.” “The Radical Left Democrats are a complete and total threat to democracy,” Trump insisted.

A Rare Cross-Party Pardon

The decision represents one of the few instances where Trump has extended clemency to a Democrat particularly one still serving in Congress.

Cuellar has long held influence in South Texas, a region where Democrats and Republicans often compete intensely for voter support.
The pardon immediately halts the federal case against the congressman and his wife, removing the possibility of a lengthy trial.