Rep. Henry Cuellar in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, June 4, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The pardon came as Cuellar filed to run for re-election on Wednesday, stating his intent to run as a Democrat.
In May 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Cuellar with bribery and acting as a foreign agent for having allegedly accepted $600,000 from the Azerbaijan government in return for the congressman’s assistance in Washington.
"Congressman Cuellar allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City," the DOJ said in a press release at the time.
"In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan," the DOJ added.
HOUSE DEM PARDONED BY TRUMP REVEALS WHETHER HE WILL SWITCH POLITICAL PARTIES
Rep. Henry Cuellar spoke with Fox News Digital along the Rio Grande during a bipartisan congressional delegation to the border. (Elizabeth Elkind/Fox News)
Cuellar did not address why he believed he had received a pardon.
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"I want to thank the president, President Donald Trump, for his actions. Number two, I certainly want to thank God. It was a very difficult time. And the third thing is: Back to work," Cuellar said.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/watch-dem-lawmaker-thanks-trump-pardon-says-came-surprise-amid-re-election-bid