Cuellar had faced a dozen charges of bribery, money laundering and conspiracy. On Wednesday, he filed for reelection as a Democrat, quieting speculation that he migh switch parties.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has been charged with corruption, has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon.

Tester, who lost to Republican Senator-elect Tim Sheehy last month, was not among a small group of Democrats who blasted Biden for the pardon, telling reporters in Washington on Monday to "ask somebody else" about the matter while suggesting that his opinion was irrelevant since he would no longer be in office next month.