Trump Grants Pardon to Democratic Congressman in Bribery Case

US President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar in a bribery case, claiming that the justice system had been “weaponised” by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Trump announced the pardon on Wednesday via his Truth Social platform, stating, “I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar … I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!”

Cuellar and his wife faced multiple conspiracy and bribery charges, accused by prosecutors of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from an oil and gas company partly owned by the government of Azerbaijan. The couple denied the charges and were due to stand trial in April.

Responding to the pardon on X, Cuellar said, “I want to thank President Trump for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts.”

Without citing evidence, Trump alleged that the Biden administration had “weaponised the Justice System against their political opponents,” noting Cuellar’s opposition to “Open Borders and the Biden Border ‘Catastrophe.'”

Trump, who has previously described his own legal issues as political “witch hunts,” has issued several high-profile pardons since taking office for a second term this year.

On Monday, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was released from a West Virginia prison where he faced over four decades behind bars on narcotics and weapons charges, following a surprise pardon by Trump.

Earlier this year, Trump also pardoned Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in a political corruption case.

Khaborwala/SS