Rep. Henry Cuellar Indicted on Foreign Bribery Charges—5 Fast Facts You Need to Know Before 2024

WASHINGTON—In a dramatic move reverberating through Capitol Hill and South Texas alike, President Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon Wednesday to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his wife, Imelda, wiping away a 2024 federal indictment that accused the couple of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities in Azerbaijan and Mexico. The White House statement framed the pardon as “correcting an excessive prosecution,” echoing arguments Cuellar’s legal team has advanced for more than a year. The nine-term congressman, who represents the border-straddling 28th District from Laredo to San Antonio, had pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, money laundering and acting as an unregistered foreign agent, insisting the payments were legitimate legal consulting fees. Trump’s decision stunned lawmakers across the aisle. House Republicans accused the president of shielding a political ally as the GOP tries to flip the seat in 2026, while progressive Democrats—already skeptical of Cuellar’s centrist record on immigration and abortion—renewed calls for party leaders to distance themselves. Speaker Hakeem Jeffries said the House Ethics Committee will still review Cuellar’s conduct, noting that a presidential pardon “does not erase the underlying behavior.” Legal experts say the pardon terminates the criminal case but leaves civil penalties and congressional discipline on the table. “All statutes are moot, but reputational damage remains,” former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade told reporters. For Cuellar, the timing could not be better politically. Filing for Texas’ March 2026 primary opens next week, and the congressman now faces no serious Democratic challenger, according to state party officials. Republicans, meanwhile, are expected to pour millions into the district, framing the pardon as evidence of entrenched corruption in Washington. The controversy also touches foreign-policy nerves. Prosecutors had alleged that Cuellar advanced the interests of Azerbaijan’s state-run energy company and a Mexico-based bank while serving on key House appropriations panels. Although those allegations will no longer see a jury, House Democrats say they plan to re-evaluate committee assignments in the coming days. As South Texans digest the news, local business leaders remain largely supportive of their longtime congressman, praising his record on trade and border infrastructure. But activists in Laredo warn that disillusioned voters could stay home in 2026 if party leaders appear complacent. With Congress heading into year-end spending negotiations, Cuellar returns to Washington legally unencumbered yet politically battered. Whether the presidential pardon becomes a lifeline—or an anchor—in his quest for a tenth term will be tested in the months ahead.