House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stood by President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, indicted on federal conspiracy and bribery charges last year.
Speaking on CNN, Jeffries was asked about his response to the development. He said Cuellar is a “beloved member of the House of Representatives and also loved in his community.” “This indictment was very thin to begin with. in my view, the charges would eventually be dismissed if not at the court trial level, by the Supreme Court as they repeatedly done in instances just like this,” he added.
Asked if he agreed with Trump’s pardon, Jeffries said he didn’t know why “he decided to do this but the outcome was the right one.”
Trump pardoned Cuellar on Wednesday, saying that former President Joe Biden “used the FBI and DOJ to ‘take out’ a member of his own Party after Highly Respected Congressman Henry Cuellar bravely spoke out against Open Borders, and the Biden Border ‘Catastrophe.'”
He added in a social media publication that “Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman’s beautiful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the TRUTH.” “I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — your nightmare is finally over!” he added.
Cuellar promptly thanked Trump “for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts.” “I thank God for standing with my family and I during this difficult time. This decision clears the air and lets us move forward for South Texas. This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains. And I intend to meet it head on. Thank you Mr. President, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America,” Cuellar said.
Cuellar was indicted last year after being accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from entities linked to Azerbaijan and Mexico.
Prosecutors alleged that between 2014 and 2021 Cuellar and his wife accepted payments from an Azerbaijani energy company and a Mexican bank. In return, Cuellar allegedly used his congressional position to promote the interests of these foreign-controlled entities in the United States.
Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislation favorable to the former Soviet republic and deliver a friendly speech on the House floor in exchange for the payments. He was at one point the co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus and also traveled to the country in 2013.
Three different people took plea deals in the context of the case, admitting to helping the Cuellars in the bribery schemes. Despite the allegations, Cuellar consistently denied any wrongdoing, publicly asserting his innocence after the charges were filed.
Originally published on Latin Times
