On December 7, 2025, former President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Congressman Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, who has been indicted on charges of bribery and conspiracy. Cuellar and his wife are accused of accepting nearly $600,000 from an Azerbaijani state-owned oil company and a Mexican financial institution, allegedly in exchange for advancing Azerbaijan's interests through Cuellar's congressional office. Both Cuellar and his wife have denied any wrongdoing, framing the charges as politically motivated, particularly in light of Cuellar's criticism of the Biden administration's immigration policies.

Following the pardon, Cuellar announced his intention to run for reelection in a competitive Texas district, which has been characterized as vulnerable for Democrats. Trump expressed disappointment over Cuellar's decision to continue his political career as a Democrat, criticizing what he perceived as a lack of loyalty to the Republican Party. He claimed that the legal actions against Cuellar were part of a broader narrative of the 'weaponization' of the Justice Department under President Biden, a theme Trump has frequently invoked in relation to his own legal challenges.

The pardon has drawn mixed reactions, with some Republicans expressing concern that it undermines potential electoral advantages for the party in the upcoming midterm elections. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries suggested that the indictment against Cuellar was weak and questioned Trump's rationale for issuing the pardon. Cuellar's seat is considered one of the more vulnerable positions for Democrats, according to the Cook Political Report.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump defended Cuellar, framing the indictment as politically motivated and expressing sympathy for the Cuellar family's situation. He shared a letter from Cuellar's daughters, who appealed for mercy on behalf of their father, citing his criticism of President Biden's border policies as a possible factor in the indictment. Cuellar has faced scrutiny for allegedly engaging in corrupt practices through consulting contracts linked to his wife’s businesses, which the Justice Department claims provided little legitimate work.

This incident raises significant questions about the implications of political pardons and the intersection of legal accountability and political loyalty, particularly in a climate where corporate and state influences are increasingly scrutinized.