Cuellar Wins a Key Nod to Regain a Top House Appropriations Post

The pardon that represents the new era of corruption

Recently, President Trump issued yet another pardon that’s corrosive to the rule of law — this one to Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat who was awaiting trial on federal bribery charges. This pardon was exceptionally brazen. Mr. Trump publicly acknowledged that he had issued it to induce Mr. Cuellar to switch parties, and attacked him for a “lack of LOYALTY” when he declined to do so.

Cuellar wins a key nod to regain a top House Appropriations post

​Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to recommend reinstalling Rep. Henry Cuellar as the ranking member of the panel’s Homeland Security subcommittee, after President Donald Trump pardoned the congressman for alleged bribery schemes.  Trump’s “full and unconditional” pardon of the Texas Democrat and his wife, Imelda, announced last week, put Democrats in the awkward position of having to decide whether to reinstate Cue…

After Trump pardon, Rep. Henry Cuellar restored to homeland security funding post</h1> <p cl

By Marijke Friedman and Gabby Birenbaum, The Texas Tribune December 11, 2025 Days after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar won back his position as the top Democratic member on a powerful House panel that oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The Laredo Democrat forfeited his role as chair of the Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security in 2024 after he was indicted on corruption charge…

President's pardon of Henry Cuellar erodes justice yet again

Americans can be forgiven if their faith in our justice system is shaken.

Democrats Return Henry Cuellar to Powerful Spending Post After Trump Pardon

Tom Williams/APHouse Democrats on Thursday voted to return Rep. Henry Cuellar to his leadership role on the House Appropriations Committee following his presidential pardon on federal corruption charges.“We got ratified,” Cuellar told reporters after the vote.President Donald Trump granted Cuellar clemency in a surprise move last week, saying the Texas Democrat was targeted for speaking out against some of President Joe Biden’s policies, includi…

Rep. Henry Cuellar restored to powerful spending post

After his corruption indictment last year, the Laredo Democrat forfeited his role as the top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees more than $65 billion in annual spending.