On December 3, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a pardon for U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar. This decision comes in light of federal bribery and conspiracy charges against the couple, which were brought by the Justice Department during the Biden administration. Trump characterized the Cuellars as victims of a politicized justice system, suggesting that their indictment was a direct result of Cuellar's opposition to the administration's immigration policies.

The Cuellars were indicted in May 2024, facing allegations of accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes from an oil and gas company linked to Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. The indictment claimed that these bribes were funneled through sham consulting contracts, with Imelda Cuellar reportedly performing little to no legitimate work under these agreements. The charges included conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, to which both Cuellars pleaded not guilty.

In his announcement on Truth Social, Trump expressed relief for Cuellar, stating, "Your nightmare is finally over!" Cuellar, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration's immigration policies, expressed gratitude for the pardon, indicating it would allow him and his family to move forward. He has maintained that the timing of the indictment, occurring shortly before an election, raises questions about the motivations behind the charges.

Despite the pardon, Cuellar remains under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which began its inquiry shortly after his indictment. Cuellar has served in Congress for over two decades and is known for his moderate positions on various issues, including immigration and firearms, often diverging from his party's mainstream views. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the intersection of political dissent and legal accountability, particularly in the context of immigration policy, which remains a contentious issue in U.S. politics.

The U.S. Constitution grants the president broad authority to issue pardons for federal offenses, a power that can be seen as both a mechanism for justice and a potential tool for political influence. Trump's recent pardons have included individuals with political ties to him, raising questions about the implications of such actions on public trust and institutional integrity.