Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee have voted to reinstate Rep. Henry Cuellar to a principal role on a significant spending subcommittee, subsequent to his pardon from federal corruption charges by former President Donald Trump. The decision was made on Thursday, marking a significant turn in Cuellar's political career.

“We got ratified,” Cuellar announced to the press after securing the vote. The Texas representative had faced internal reservations within his own party regarding his return as the top Democrat on the Homeland Security subpanel. However, Cuellar's longstanding popularity within the Democratic Caucus played a pivotal role in his comeback, especially among veteran colleagues who believe the legal hurdles have been thoroughly addressed by the pardon.

“Just look at the rules,” stated Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), underscoring the argument that Cuellar's reappointment aligns with Democratic Caucus regulations.

The necessity for a vote on Cuellar’s position indicates that at least one member of the Democratic appropriators objected to his reinstatement by acclamation. Should the Democrats regain the majority in the House next year, Cuellar would oversee significant funding exceeding $60 billion annually for agencies such as Customs and Border Protection and ICE.

This decision comes amidst a broader effort by Democrats to address ethical concerns within their ranks. Notably, nearly two dozen Democrats, led by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, recently took steps to publicly censure Rep. Chuy García (D-Ill.) over allegations of manipulating his retirement announcement to favor a specific successor.

Rep. Lauren Underwood has filled the top Democrat position on the subcommittee since Cuellar was indicted last year. The charges involved accusations of accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities, which Cuellar has vehemently denied, suggesting the indictment under President Joe Biden was politically motivated due to his moderate stance on immigration issues.

As Cuellar resumes his influential role, the dynamics within the Democratic Party and its handling of ethics and leadership positions remain under close observation.