President Donald Trump slammed Rep. Henry Cuellar over his decision to run a new congressional campaign as a Democrat less than a week after pardoning him.
In a lengthy social media post, Trump criticized Cuellar for not switching parties following the pardon. "Only a short time after signing the Pardon, Congressman Henry Cuellar announced that he will be 'running' for Congress again, in the Great State of Texas (a state where I received the highest number of votes ever recorded!), as a Democrat, continuing to work with the same Radical left Scum that just weeks before wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in Prison - And provably still do!" Trump said in a passage of the publication.
He went on to claim Cuellar's decision was a "lack of LOYALTY," and said: "Next time, no more Mr. Nice guy!"
Cuellar has not addressed Trump's criticism, but did slam former President Joe Biden, telling Fox News that he believed the indictment against him and his wife was retaliation for criticizing his border policies.
"I now look at all the evidence, and looking at everything, definitely I feel that I was weaponized, that heused the department to go after myself and my family," he claimed.
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.
Trump's pardon was supported by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who told CNN that 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.
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