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President Trump announced Friday his intention to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Trump justified his decision on social media, claiming Hernandez was “treated very harshly and unfairly” according to people he “greatly respects.” The announcement comes just days before Honduras holds presidential elections, with Trump openly supporting conservative candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura.
Hernandez, who served two terms as Honduras’ president, was convicted in March 2023 of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Following his extradition in 2022, he has been serving his sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia while appealing his conviction.
The news sparked immediate celebration from Hernandez’s family. His wife, Ana García, told reporters they had just informed Hernandez of the development. “He still didn’t know of this news and believe me, when we shared it his voice broke with emotion,” García said. The family gathered at their Tegucigalpa home—the same residence from which Hernandez was taken when arrested—and knelt in prayer, expressing gratitude for his anticipated return.
García characterized her husband’s prosecution as a coordinated plot by drug traffickers and the “radical left” seeking revenge against the former president. While no specific timeline was given for Hernandez’s return to Honduras, García expressed hope it would happen “in the coming days.”
Renato C. Stabile, one of Hernandez’s lawyers, praised Trump’s decision, calling it the correction of “a great injustice” and expressing optimism about future U.S.-Honduras relations. Another attorney for Hernandez, Sabrina Shroff, declined to comment.
Trump’s pardon announcement was part of a broader message endorsing Asfura in Sunday’s Honduran election. In his social media post, Trump warned that if Asfura loses, “the United States will not be throwing good money after bad,” arguing that “a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country.”
Asfura, 67, is making his second presidential bid as the National Party candidate. The former Tegucigalpa mayor has faced previous accusations of embezzling public funds, which he denies. His main competitors include Rixi Moncada of the incumbent democratic socialist Libre party and Salvador Nasralla, a former television personality representing the Liberal Party.
Trump has framed Honduras’ election as a test for democracy, suggesting that an Asfura loss could push Honduras toward Venezuela-style governance under the influence of Nicolás Maduro. This perspective aligns with Trump’s recent pressure campaign against Venezuela, which has included naval deployments and strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels.
Despite her leftist stance, outgoing Honduran President Xiomara Castro has maintained pragmatic relations with the United States, receiving visits from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and military officials. Her administration has continued to honor deportation agreements and military cooperation with the U.S.
The pardon announcement received support from Argentine President Javier Milei, a Trump admirer, who endorsed Asfura as “the candidate who best represents the opposition to the leftist tyrants who have destroyed Honduras.”
As Honduras approaches its presidential election, Trump’s pardon of Hernandez—who was once a key U.S. ally in Central America before his dramatic fall from power—signals potential shifts in U.S.-Honduras relations depending on Sunday’s electoral outcome.
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8 Comments
While I understand the desire for clemency, a pardon for someone convicted of drug trafficking seems very problematic. I would need to see a compelling case for it before supporting this decision.
Agreed. The details and justification for this pardon need to be thoroughly scrutinized. Pardoning a convicted drug trafficker is a very serious step.
This is a concerning development. Pardoning a convicted drug trafficker sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the rule of law. I hope there is a strong public outcry against this move.
This is a controversial move by Trump. While I understand the desire for clemency, Hernandez’s conviction for drug trafficking is very serious. I wonder if this is more about politics than justice.
I agree, the timing of this pardon announcement is quite suspicious given the upcoming Honduran elections. It seems to be more about political maneuvering than true justice.
Hernandez was convicted of very serious crimes, so a presidential pardon seems questionable. I’d like to know more about the evidence and judicial process that led to his conviction before forming an opinion on this.
That’s a fair point. Transparency around the case and judicial proceedings is important here. A pardon should only be granted if there are clear grounds for it.
This raises a lot of questions about the motivations behind the pardon. Was due process followed, and is there clear evidence of wrongdoing in Hernandez’s trial? I’m skeptical this is about justice.