Trump promises to pardon former Honduran president for drug trafficking conviction

President Trump announced on Friday that he will grant a pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who in 2024 was sentenced in New York to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking and weapons offenses. Trump explained his decision on social media, stating that Hernandez was "treated very harshly and unfairly," according to numerous respected sources.

Hernandez was convicted in March of the previous year in a U.S. court for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. He served two terms leading Honduras, a Central American country with a population of approximately 10 million. Hernandez has been appealing his conviction while serving his sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia.

Following Trumps announcement, Hernandezs wife and children gathered on the steps of their Tegucigalpa home to pray, expressing gratitude for his imminent return after nearly four years apart. This was the same residence from which Honduran authorities removed him in 2022 shortly after he left office, leading to his extradition to the U.S.

Hernandezs family said they had just shared the news with him, and he was deeply moved upon hearing it. They thanked Trump, claiming the prosecution was a coordinated effort by drug traffickers and political opponents. Although the exact date of his return remains unconfirmed, the family expects it to happen in the coming days.

Hernandezs lawyer, Renato C. Stabile, praised Trumps decision, describing it as a correction of a major injustice and expressing optimism about future U.S.-Honduras cooperation. Another lawyer, Sabrina Shroff, declined to comment. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana criticized the pardon on social media, questioning why Hernandez would be pardoned while others involved in drug trafficking face prosecution.

Trump defended his decision during a press briefing aboard Air Force One, claiming that many Hondurans believed Hernandezs prosecution was politically motivated by the Biden administration. Trump argued that being a head of state should not automatically equate to being imprisoned for life for crimes allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

The announcement was also part of Trumps broader message supporting Tito Asfura in the upcoming Honduran presidential election. Trump stated that the U.S. would support Honduras if Asfura wins but warned against funding initiatives under what he considers a "wrong leader." Asfura, 67, a former mayor of Tegucigalpa, is running for the conservative National Party and has pledged to address infrastructure challenges despite past allegations of embezzlement, which he denies.

Other major contenders include Rixi Moncada from the ruling Libre party and Salvador Nasralla, a former TV personality running for the Liberal Party. Trump has framed the Honduran election as a test for democracy, warning that a loss by Asfura could steer Honduras toward the influence of Venezuelas Nicols Maduro.

Trump has previously taken aggressive measures against Maduro, including military deployments and sanctions, while also leaving open the possibility of negotiations. Meanwhile, outgoing Honduran President Xiomara Castro has maintained a leftist yet pragmatic approach with the U.S., cooperating on security and deportation matters, and preserving extradition and military agreements with the United States.

Author: Sophia Brooks