Trump Pardon Propels Controversial Release of Ex-Honduran President Hernandez

Tue Dec 02 2025 21:07:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, pardoned by Donald Trump after a 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking, returns to a politically charged environment in Honduras.

Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, has been released from prison following a presidential pardon granted by Donald Trump. Sentenced in 2022 to 45 years for drug trafficking, Hernández's release injects new dynamics into Honduras’s political landscape, particularly with upcoming elections. His wife expressed gratitude to Trump on social media, emphasizing the struggle of the past years. Meanwhile, Honduran authorities are contemplating potential charges against him upon his return.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, has returned to freedom following a controversial pardon from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Initially sentenced to 45 years in prison for enabling drug traffickers to transport hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States, Hernández's release has raised significant political questions as he re-enters a charged political atmosphere in Honduras.

His wife, Ana García, expressed her gratitude to Trump on social media, stating, 'After almost four years of pain, of waiting and difficult challenges, my husband Juan Orlando Hernández RETURNED to being a free man, thanks to the presidential pardon granted by President Donald Trump.' This remark highlights the Hernandez family's struggle over the past few years.

Trump, when questioned about his decision to pardon Hernández, suggested he had been responding to calls from the people of Honduras, stating, 'The people of Honduras really thought he was set up... I looked at the facts and I agreed with them.'

Hernández was extradited to the U.S. in April 2022 shortly after finishing his term as president, leading to his conviction in a federal court in New York. He was accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers and using government resources to protect drug shipments while portraying himself as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking.

Despite his release, Hernández is not automatically free from legal troubles. The current Attorney General of Honduras, Johel Zelaya, indicated that his office is still pursuing justice against the former president. It remains unclear what charges he may face upon his return to Honduras, as previous investigations during his administration did not lead to charges.

This pardon introduces a complex variable in the backdrop of Honduras's upcoming elections, potentially benefitting candidates associated with Hernández’s National Party. The situation complicates the political dynamics in the nation as current President Xiomara Castro, who initially extradited Hernández to the U.S., remains in power until January.