Trump says he’s pardoning Democratic congressman in bribery case

[ad_1] Sakshi Venkatraman US reporter

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6c42/live/1aeb9550-d060-11f0-b76c-637a0d75f572.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images A close photo of Henry Cuellar, who wears a dark suit and white shirt" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photographs Congressman Henry Cuellar was criminally charged final 12 months

US President Donald Trump has mentioned he'll pardon Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar, who was charged final 12 months with accepting round $600,000 (£478,000) in bribes.

On social media, Trump mentioned he would problem a "full and unconditional" pardon of the Texas consultant and his spouse, Imelda Cuellar, who was additionally charged within the case.

"Henry, I do not know you, however you may sleep nicely tonight - Your nightmare is lastly over!" the president, a Republican, wrote.

He added that he thought Cuellar was charged by former President Joe Biden as a result of he "bravely spoke out in opposition to Open Borders". Cuellar and his spouse, who posted bail after they had been charged, keep their innocence.

On Wednesday morning Cuellar filed for re-election as a Democrat, scotching hypothesis that he may be poised to change events and pad the Republicans' slim majority within the Home.

Biden's Division of Justice had alleged that Cuellar, who has been representing Texas' twenty eighth congressional district since 2005, illicitly acquired cash from an Azerbaijani government-owned oil firm and a Mexican financial institution.

The indictment alleged that, in alternate for the cash, Cuellar agreed to affect US international coverage in favour of Azerbaijan - and to advocate for measures that might profit the Mexico Metropolis financial institution.

Corporations owned by Imelda Cuellar allegedly laundered the cash, which the household used to repay money owed and make purchases.

Amongst them was $58,000 (£46,000) in bank card funds, $18,000 at wholesale shops and $12,000 for a customized robe, the indictment mentioned.

The couple confronted fees of conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, cash laundering and violating a ban on appearing as brokers of a international organisation.

Although he is a Democrat, Cuellar's politics sit to the precise of many members of his get together.

He is been known as the "final pro-life Democrat" for his average stance on abortion.

"My religion is evident: abortion should be uncommon and protected," he has mentioned prior to now.

In a letter to Trump, Cuellar's daughters additionally mentioned they consider their father's stance on immigration might have led to his arrest.

They wrote that their father believed in "securing the border" and that his "independence and honesty" might have been the explanation behind his indictment.

Trump appeared to agree, saying on Reality Social that Biden "went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman's fantastic spouse, Imelda, merely for talking the TRUTH".

That is Trump's third act of clemency this week.

He pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, the previous president of Honduras, who was discovered responsible in March 2024 of conspiring to import cocaine to the US, and of possessing machine weapons.

On Monday, Trump additionally commuted the sentence of former funding supervisor David Gentile, who was simply days right into a seven-year jail sentence for fraud.

To date in his second time period, the president has pardoned or commuted the sentences of a number of individuals convicted of assorted varieties of fraud or monetary crimes.