Democratic congressman from Texas

Henry Cuellar

a.k.a. “The Democrat”

A sitting Democratic congressman, he was indicted in 2024 with his wife on charges of taking about $600,000 in bribes connected to a Mexican bank and Azerbaijan’s state oil company. They were both pardoned before trial.

Rap sheet

Charged with: Conspiracy; bribery; honest services wire fraud; money laundering [1]
Court: Southern District of Texas [1]
Status: Never tried [1]
Granted: Pardons for him and his wife, Imelda, December 2, 2025 [2]

The receipt

PARDONMAXXING HENRY CUELLAR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Wiped off the books

The trial [2][3] Cancelled

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you for your business
No refunds · No questions

Gold is money that was reportedly spent near the President’s orbit. Red is what the grant wiped away. We list what was reported and when. We don’t claim one caused the other. How we count.

Timeline

May 2024 The law Indicted with his wife. [3]
December 2, 2025 The pardon Both pardoned before trial. [2][3]

Detective’s notes

Commentary

Proof that bipartisanship isn’t dead. It just moved to the pardon office.

Sources

Clemency grants by President Donald J. Trump, 2025–present (archived Sept. 20, 2026) U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney, via the Internet Archive
Signed clemency warrant: Henry Cuellar U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney · December 2, 2025
On Trump’s pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar Texas Tribune · December 3, 2025