Trump Explodes After Pardoned Texas Rep. Cuellar Launches Reelection Bid As Dem
President Donald Trump attacked Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar on Sunday after the lawmaker said he would seek re-election within the Democratic Party despite Trump pardoning him and his wife, Imelda.
Cuellar said Wednesday he would seek re-election as a Democrat, confirming his decision just hours after Trump pardoned him and his wife. In an article published Sunday on Truth Social, Trump said Democrats in the Biden administration spent years trying to destroy Cuellar and his family through what he described as aggressive, politically motivated prosecutions.
“Can you imagine??? The Democrats, under the crooked Joe Biden administration, who always use extreme force and prison to destroy their political opponent, wanted to put Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, in JAIL for 15 years, which is what I predicted those radical left crazies would do,” Trump wrote. “And they never stopped wanting to accomplish this evil quest! The Democrats mercilessly went after Henry with everything they had!”
Trump said Democrats viciously targeted Cuellar and his family long after he lost the 2024 election.
“They sought to destroy him, his lovely wife, his two young daughters, and everyone close to them. When the Democrats lost the 2024 presidential election by a landslide, and power with it, they still did everything they could to continue to pursue the Cuellar family. The Democrats were vicious, and all because Henry rightly and strongly wanted BORDER SECURITY! He was against the influx of illegal immigrants into our country, unchecked nor control.”
Trump said he felt confident at the time that he had done the right thing, describing the pardon as potentially life-saving for a family he said had been “tormented by some very sick and disturbed people.” He also said he left the Oval Office convinced that the decision served both fairness and principle.
“Congressman Henry Cuellar has announced that he will run again for Congress, in the great state of Texas (a state where I received the highest number of votes ever!), as a Democrat, continuing to work with the same radical left scum who, just weeks before, wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in prison,” Trump concluded. “And it probably still is! Such a lack of LOYALTY, something Texas voters and Henry’s daughters won’t like. Oh’ [sic] well, next time, more Mr. Nice!
Cuellar said he considers himself a conservative Democrat who works across party lines and supports Trump’s success.
“I’m a conservative Democrat, I work across the lines and I want to see the president succeed. President Trump, and that’s good for the country, and I’ll work with anyone,” Cuellar said. “We may have some differences, but if I can work with them, I will work with President Trump. »
WATCH:
Trump announced Wednesday that he had pardoned Cuellar and his wife, who had been indicted by the Biden administration’s Justice Department for alleged corruption and were not scheduled to go to trial until 2026. (RELATED: Cuellar Says Democrats Made Wrong Choice in Case of Deported MS-13 Suspect)
“Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even his wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for telling the TRUTH,” Trump wrote.
Federal prosecutors accused Cuellar and his wife of stealing approximately $600,000 from Azerbaijani officials and a Mexican financial institution between 2014 and 2021. In exchange, Cuellar used his office in Congress to promote Azerbaijan’s interests, allegations the couple has repeatedly denied. Cuellar, who has represented his heavily Hispanic South Texas district since 2005, remained in his House seat throughout the affair.
Cuellar, a self-described centrist, has consistently clashed with Democratic leaders over border policy, criticized former President Joe Biden’s approach to immigration and denounced those in his party who opposed the deportation of a suspected MS-13 member earlier this year. He also supported several Republican-backed measures, including legislation targeting migrant crime and protecting women’s sports, and broke ranks again in November when he backed a bipartisan plan to reopen the government to end its shutdown in 2025.
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