CRBC News
Politics
Conflict
Security
Economy
Science
Technology
Environment
Health
Culture
Society
Lifestyle
Politics

Jeffries Praises Trump’s Pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar, Calls It “Exactly the Right Outcome”

03:27 AM, 12/04/2025

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supported President Trump’s pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar, calling the decision “exactly the right outcome.” Jeffries described the March 2024 indictment alleging hundreds of thousands in foreign bribes as "very thin" and said he believed the charges would likely have been dismissed. He said he did not know Trump’s motive, but expects Cuellar to remain a valued member of the House Democratic Caucus.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) broke with partisan expectations Wednesday by supporting President Donald Trump’s pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.). Jeffries made his comments during an appearance on national television shortly after the pardon was announced on Truth Social.

“One of the clearest examples of this was when Crooked Joe 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,’” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Cuellar was indicted in March 2024 on allegations that he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreign bribes; his wife was also indicted at the same time. Jeffries described the indictment as “very thin” from the outset and said he believed the charges likely would have been dismissed either at the trial-court level or on appeal.

“Congressman Cuellar is a beloved member of the House of Representatives, loved in his community, particularly in Laredo. I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with him down in Laredo in South Texas,” Jeffries said. “Listen, the reality is this indictment was very thin to begin with, in my view. The charges were eventually going to be dismissed, if not at the trial court level then by the Supreme Court, as they’ve repeatedly done in instances just like this.”

Jeffries acknowledged he did not know President Trump’s motives for issuing the pardon, and a host noted that Cuellar represents a district Trump carried. Still, Jeffries said he supported the decision: “I think the outcome was exactly the right outcome.”

When asked whether Cuellar might switch parties, Jeffries said he was not aware of the congressman’s reelection plans but expressed confidence that Cuellar would remain “a highly, highly valued member of the House Democratic Caucus.”

Jeffries’ endorsement is notable because it cuts across the usual partisan lines and reflects both local ties and legal skepticism about the strength of the charges brought in March 2024.

Similar Articles

Trending