Dem congressman pardoned by Trump accuses Biden-era DOJ of weaponization

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, accused the Biden-era Justice Department of weaponizing the investigation after President Donald Trump’s pardon in a “Special Report” on Wednesday.

“I spoke out against the Biden administration on open borders… It was absolutely weaponized.” Cuellar told Fox News’ Bret Baier.

President Trump announced Wednesday It would grant a “full and unconditional” pardon to the Texas Democrat and his wife, Imelda, who are awaiting trial on bribery and money laundering allegations.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES THE AMNESTY OF DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE HENRY CUELLAR

The Democratic lawmaker expressed his deep gratitude to Trump.

“I want to thank President Trump for his pardon,” he said. “God has been good to my wife and family… I will definitely say it again, thank you President Trump.”

The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that the duo received nearly $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities, including an Azerbaijani government oil company and a Mexican bank, in a seven-year operation.

Federal authorities in May 2024 charged the Cuellars with 14 crimes, including bribery, conspiracy and money laundering. The couple has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Cuellar told Fox News that he sympathized with President Trump’s legal troubles as a candidate in 2024, claiming that he received a legal opinion and two ethical opinions “before any work was done.”

“I feel really bad for him because of some of the accusations that have been made against him. I think it’s very unfair…” the rep explained. “I don’t want anyone to be subjected to this kind of weaponization.”

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, is seen at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

The Justice Department accused Cuellar of acting as a foreign agent to advance the interests of the Azerbaijani government.

DEMOCRATIC CUELLAR WARNED BIDEN: BORDER CRISIS WILL ‘DEFINITELY’ BE AN ELECTION ISSUE IN 2024

Bret Baier asked Cuellar how the presidential pardon came about, and the Democrat declined to elaborate.

“I’m not going to second-guess the president, other than to say…President Trump, thank you,” he said.

Cuellar has served Texas’s 28th Congressional District since 2005, which is located near a heavily traveled immigrant transit area along the Rio Grande.

Rep. Henry Cuellar has been under scrutiny for being on the DCCC’s focus list for the 2026 elections. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc., Getty Images/AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

The Democratic congressman has repeatedly criticized former President Joe Biden’s border policies and supported Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to bus thousands of immigrants into major U.S. cities during Biden’s term.

PAST: ‘WE NEED TO HAVE REFLECTIONS ON THE BORDER,’ CUELLAR SAYS

Cuellar confirmed he will run for re-election in 2026, a race that is expected to be highly competitive.

He calls himself a “conservative Democrat,” but will remain a Democrat, and confirmed he wants his party to win the House.

“Liberal Democrats will continue to have problems with me because some of them don’t believe in bipartisanship,” Cuellar told Fox News. “I work with Republicans.”

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“I think I voted better than some Republicans in the group,” he added.

Last year, Cuellar was re-elected six months after his federal indictment in May, defeating his Republican opponent by more than 10,000 votes.

“The reason I won my election is because I brought independents and modern Republicans together. And I will win that again,” he asserted.