Trump Oddly Goes to Bat for ‘Respected’ House Democrat Who’s Just Been Indicted, Bashes ‘DC Thugs’ for Taking Him Out

AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File

Former President Donald Trump is strangely going to bat for a House Democrat who’s just been indicted.

In a post on Truth Social late Sunday, the former President defended Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) — who was indicted over the weekend for allegedly participating in a $600,000 bribery scheme. Trump, though, evidently believes the Texas Democrat was targeted for his more moderate positions about the border.

“Biden just Indicted Henry Cuellar because the Respected Democrat Congressman wouldn’t play Crooked Joe’s Open Border game,” Trump wrote. “He was for Border Control, so they said, ‘Let’s use the FBI and DOJ to take him out!’ This is the way they operate. They’re a bunch of D.C. Thugs, and at some point they will be paying a very big price for what they have done to our Country. CROOKED JOE BIDEN IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY!”

Trump’s defense of Cuellar likely didn’t go over well with House Republicans, who see an opportunity to expand their slender 217-212 majority if the Texas Democrat steps down or is expelled by his colleagues. Monday’s Politico Playbook reports the NRCC has been compiling statements from Democrats who called for the removal of indicted former congressman George Santos in an effort to show hypocrisy if those same Democrats should defend Cuellar.

Of course, Trump’s motives appear to be more personal, as he is continuing to make the argument that the DOJ has been weaponized against conservatives — an argument that seems to be more difficult to make each time a high-profile Democrat gets investigated or indicted by the DOJ.