BREAKING NEWS: President Donald Trump has just announced a “full and complete” pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for his involvement in drug trafficking. This controversial decision comes as Hernández was convicted for aiding drug lords in smuggling over 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.
In a post on Truth Social earlier today, 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 announcement has sparked immediate reactions, especially given the timing, as Trump also endorsed Tito Asfura, the candidate from Hernández’s National Party, ahead of Honduras’ national elections.
This move starkly contrasts Trump’s ongoing military buildup in the Caribbean, aimed at removing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is also accused of facilitating drug trafficking. While Trump supports the right-wing National Party in Honduras, Maduro leads a leftist government that has long been at odds with the U.S. The hypocrisy of pardoning a drug trafficker while targeting another has raised eyebrows among critics.
Hernández was convicted in March by a Manhattan jury after prosecutors presented evidence showing he accepted millions in bribes to protect drug traffickers, including notorious figures like Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is serving a life sentence in the U.S. At his sentencing, Judge P. Kevin Castel described Hernández as a “two-faced politician hungry for power” and imposed an $8 million fine alongside the lengthy prison term.
The implications of Trump’s pardon are significant, raising concerns about the integrity of U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking. Former DEA official Mike Vigil remarked that this action could severely damage the credibility of the U.S. in international drug enforcement. “This action would be nothing short of catastrophic and would destroy the credibility of the U.S. in the international community,” Vigil stated.
As Honduras prepares for a tense election this Sunday, the endorsement of Asfura has intensified the political atmosphere. Reports indicate a tight three-way race, with allegations of fraud and foreign interference already surfacing. The outcome could impact not just Honduras but also U.S.-Latin America relations.
WHAT’S NEXT: Voters in Honduras will head to the polls on November 26, and the results could shift the political landscape significantly. Meanwhile, the fallout from Trump’s pardon continues to reverberate, prompting discussions about the U.S. stance on drug trafficking and its implications for international diplomacy.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
