A former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, has been released from prison after receiving a pardon from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking for his role in smuggling over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States, left a facility in West Virginia on Monday. His wife, Ana García, announced the news on social media, celebrating his return to freedom after nearly four years.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirmed the release of a man matching Hernández’s name and age. García expressed gratitude towards Trump, 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.” She shared a photo of the official release listing alongside her sentiments.
The timing of Trump’s pardon has raised eyebrows, particularly as the former president engages in anti-drug initiatives, including military actions against vessels in the Caribbean suspected of drug trafficking. Trump justified his decision, claiming that Hernández had been treated “harshly and unfairly” during his trial. His social media comments reflected a belief that Hernández’s conviction stemmed from political motivations rather than concrete evidence.
In March 2022, Hernández was convicted in a U.S. court of conspiracy to import cocaine, having served two terms as the leader of Honduras, a country with a population of approximately 10 million. While incarcerated at the U.S. Penitentiary in Hazelton, he began appealing his conviction.
Following the announcement of the pardon, Hernández’s family prayed together at their home in Tegucigalpa, expressing relief and gratitude. This residence was notably the same location from which he was extradited to the United States in 2022 shortly after completing his presidential term.
Political reactions to the pardon have been mixed, with criticism emerging from both sides of the aisle. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana questioned the rationale behind pardoning Hernández while simultaneously pursuing drug kingpins like Nicolás Maduro. “Why would we pardon [Hernández] and then go after Maduro for running drugs into the United States? Lock up every drug runner!” he stated.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine also condemned the decision, describing it as “shocking” during an appearance on “Face the Nation.” Kaine, who serves as the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, highlighted Hernández’s significant criminal enterprise and the evidence presented during the trial, which included remarks allegedly made by Hernández about flooding the U.S. with cocaine.
Trump defended his decision while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, suggesting that many in Honduras viewed the allegations against Hernández as politically motivated. He remarked, “He was the president of the country, and they basically said he was a drug dealer because he was the president of the country.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the prosecution as a “clear Biden overprosecution,” alleging that significant information emerged during Hernández’s trial that warranted a reevaluation of the case.
As the political landscape in Honduras continues to evolve with ongoing presidential election challenges, Hernández’s release and the circumstances surrounding it remain a focal point for both domestic and international observers.
