Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, was pardoned by former President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Cuellar suggests that his indictment from the Biden administration’s Department of Justice was a direct result of his opposition to its open borders policy.
In a conversation with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures,” Cuellar expressed his belief that his legal troubles stemmed from criticizing Biden’s border policies. “Absolutely,” he replied when asked about the indictment’s motivation. He added, “The evidence clearly shows a weapon was used against him,” likely referring to the political nature of the indictment.
Cuellar faced bribery and foreign agent charges back in May 2024, accused of taking $600,000 from the Azerbaijani government in exchange for supporting certain lawmakers. Notably, his wife, Imelda Cuellar, was also charged as part of this case.
Cuellar claimed the Justice Department aimed not just at him but his family as well, expressing frustration over the situation: “If they want to come after me because of my views on open borders, that’s one thing. But to involve family? That’s crossing the line,” he said. “As a prosecutor, that’s just not right.”
When Bartiromo inquired about his involvement with the Azerbaijani government, Cuellar maintained their innocence, emphasizing the lack of evidence against them. “We’ve reviewed all available evidence, including grand jury testimonies, which is rare, and not one person has claimed anything in return for my actions,” he asserted.
Additionally, Cuellar alleged that he was a target of a failed sting operation designed to force him into accepting bribes. “What they attempted was wrong. There’s no evidence of any quid pro quo,” he argued. He went on to blame the Biden administration and the Justice Department for trying to entrap him in this scheme.
Cuellar concluded by mentioning his discussions with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan about investigating the prosecutors involved in his case.
