URGENT UPDATE: President Donald Trump has just announced a “full and complete” pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, currently serving a 45-year sentence in a U.S. prison for drug trafficking charges. This bombshell announcement is raising eyebrows just days before critical elections in Honduras, where Hernández’s party, the National Party, is fighting to maintain influence.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “I will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernández who has been, according to many people that I greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly.” This decision stands in stark contrast to Trump’s administration’s military buildup in the Caribbean aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is also accused of drug trafficking.
Hernández was convicted in March by a Manhattan jury for facilitating the importation of over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. Testimonies from confessed traffickers revealed that he accepted millions in bribes while providing protection to notorious drug lords, including Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel. Guzmán is currently serving a life sentence in the U.S. for his crimes.
The timing of Trump’s pardon is highly controversial, particularly as it comes just two days before the Honduran elections on November 5, 2023. Trump also endorsed the National Party candidate Tito Asfura, emphasizing U.S. support for his policies. “If he doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad,” Trump warned, highlighting the stakes involved in the election.
The implications of this pardon extend beyond Honduras. Former DEA chief Mike Vigil expressed serious concerns over the potential damage to U.S. credibility in international drug trafficking investigations. “This action would be nothing short of catastrophic and would destroy the credibility of the U.S. in the international community,” Vigil stated.
Hernández’s conviction has sparked outrage and tension in Honduras, where accusations of fraud and foreign influence are rampant ahead of the elections. The country is now watching closely as the political landscape shifts dramatically, with Trump’s endorsement potentially tipping the balance in a tightly contested race.
As the situation develops, the impact of Trump’s decision to pardon a convicted drug trafficker remains to be seen. Observers are questioning how this will influence U.S.-Latin America relations and ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.
