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Just days after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump, U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar has reclaimed his position as the leading Democratic member on a significant House committee that manages funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
The Laredo Democrat lost his chairmanship of the Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security in 2024 after being indicted on corruption charges, which made him ineligible for the role under House Democratic rules. With his recent pardon, Cuellar is now eligible to return as the ranking member of the subcommittee.
Some members of the House Democratic Caucus expressed discomfort this week regarding the reinstatement of Cuellar, according to Politico. Nevertheless, 17 out of 27 Democratic members of the House Appropriations Committee opted in a secret ballot on Thursday to reinstate him, while seven voted against and the rest either abstained or recused themselves, as revealed by a source familiar with the proceedings.
This reinstatement positions Cuellar to potentially chair the panel if he is reelected and if Democrats regain the majority in the upcoming midterm elections. The subcommittee oversees more than $65 billion in annual funding for homeland security, which includes allocations for Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Cuellar and his wife were scheduled to face trial in April on multiple charges, including bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy. In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice accused him of accepting $600,000 in bribes from an oil-and-gas company operated by Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank.
Several Democrats have stated that Cuellar’s legal issues are now behind him since he was pardoned before the trial and was never found guilty. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries from New York mentioned to reporters this week that Cuellar regaining his post would align with the rules of the House Democratic Caucus.
However, others within the party have raised concerns about placing someone with a history of bribery charges back in a position to manage billions in federal funding, as reported by Politico.
Cuellar’s track record of voting with Republicans to strengthen border security has heightened these apprehensions among Democrats. In his announcement to pardon Cuellar, Trump stated on social media that the centrist Democrat faced repercussions from the Department of Justice for voicing his opposition to former President Joe Biden’s border policies.
“Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman’s wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the TRUTH,” Trump remarked.
In a statement on X last week, Cuellar declared that the pardon provides him with a “clean slate.”
“This decision clears the air and allows us to advance for South Texas,” he stated. “The noise has dissipated. The work continues.”
Cuellar takes over from Representative Lauren Underwood of Illinois, who has been serving as the acting ranking member of the subcommittee since his indictment.
This latest development comes as Cuellar braces for a challenge to his seat following the redistricting of Texas’ 28th Congressional District, which is now more advantageous for Republicans. The revised electoral map complicates Cuellar’s path to reelection, as Trump carried the district by 7 percentage points in 2024, while under the new layout, that margin would have increased to 10 points.
Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina has announced his candidacy to challenge Cuellar as a Republican, with support from national Republican figures, potentially setting the stage for one of the most competitive general elections Cuellar has faced in years.
Gabby Birenbaum contributed to this report.
Disclosure: Politico has financially supported The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization funded through donations from members, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Financial contributors have no influence over the Tribune’s journalism. A complete list of financial supporters can be found on our website.
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Tagged: Congress, Henry Cuellar, Texas congressional delegation
Marijke Friedman is a reporting fellow based in Washington, D.C., focusing on the Texas congressional delegation and political developments impacting Texans. Marijke holds a senior degree in journalism and politics.
Gabby Birenbaum is the Washington Correspondent for the Texas Tribune, covering the Texas congressional delegation and the effects of federal policy on Texas. Gabby has previously reported from Washington for various outlets.
