Trump fulfills promise, pardons well-known Honduran drug dealer

After Thanksgiving, Donald Trump announced his plan to grant a pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernndez. Many initially wondered if this was merely a test of public reaction. Some speculated that Trump might propose the idea and then retreat amid widespread criticism, as it seemed improbable that a U.S. president would release a foreign leader convicted of serious drug trafficking while the administration claims to be fighting international narcotics operations.

However, Trump appeared resolute. According to the Associated Press, Hernndez was indeed released from prison following Trumps pardon. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Hernndez was freed from U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia on Monday. Hernndez had been convicted last year in a major drug trafficking case and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

During his trial, Hernndez admitted to accepting bribes and facilitating cocaine shipments through Honduras. Reports highlighted that he had orchestrated a vast trafficking conspiracy that benefited drug cartels, while the nation suffered from increasing poverty, corruption, and violence.

Despite these facts, Trump proceeded with the pardon, surprising both Honduran citizens and U.S. officials who had devoted significant resources to prosecuting Hernndez. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the decision was influenced by the people of Honduras, who argued that the Biden-era Justice Department had been excessively harsh. Trump added that he acted on the advice of people that I greatly respect, without naming them. Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally, claimed that Hernndez sent a letter to Trump, prompting the announcement just hours later.

Stone has publicly opposed Hernndezs conviction and hosted his family on his radio program, suggesting that a pardon could weaken Honduras outgoing leftist government. Following the announcement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the move on the Senate floor, calling it truly disgusting and alarming.

Schumer described the pardon as egregious, shameful, and dangerous, and referenced a report quoting a Trump adviser admitting difficulty in justifying the decision. The senator concluded that the pardon reeks of hypocrisy and corruption, characteristic of the Trump administration.

Author: Sophia Brooks