Trump grants pardon to convicted Honduran president for trafficking tons of cocaine

President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to ex-Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, resulting in his release from a federal prison in West Virginia on Monday, after serving nearly four years. Hernandez's wife, Ana Garca, shared the news on social media, describing her husband as "once again a free man."

The pardon is considered one of the most contentious and unprecedented of Trump's tenure, occurring as his administration maintains strict measures against suspected drug-trafficking vessels at sea. Hernandez was convicted in March 2024 for conspiring to traffic cocaine into the United Statesa decade-long operation that moved over 400 tons of cocaine. Federal prosecutors described the scheme as among the "largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies worldwide."

According to the Justice Department, Hernandez received millions of dollars from violent drug cartels in the Americas. Serving two terms as Honduras president, he allegedly used his authority to shield associates, enabling extensive cocaine shipments, violent acts, and murders, which contributed to Honduras becoming one of the most dangerous nations globally. While publicly supporting anti-narcotics legislation, Hernandez simultaneously protected drug traffickers in his inner circle.

Hernandez was arrested in Honduras in 2022, extradited to the U.S., convicted on all counts in 2024, and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Trump offered shifting justifications for intervening, later stating on social media that "many people that I greatly respect" believed Hernandez faced harsh treatment, without identifying those individuals. Speaking on Air Force One, Trump called the prosecution a "Biden setup," without presenting evidence. He claimed that selling drugs in a country does not justify imprisoning its president for life.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the conviction as a case of "Biden overprosecution," referencing unspecified "egregious" information from Hernandez's trial. Lawmakers across parties criticized the pardon. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) questioned pardoning a convicted drug trafficker while intensifying action against Venezuela's drug operations, saying, "Lock up every drug runner! Dont understand why he is being pardoned." Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) opposed the pardon but expressed support for Trump's Venezuela policy. Representative Norma Torres (D-Calif.) urged Trump to reconsider, stating that if drug cartels are treated as terrorist organizations, Hernandez, as a convicted cartel associate, should remain imprisoned. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) labeled the pardon "likely corrupt," claiming it rewards wealthy criminals instead of enhancing community safety.

Author: Sophia Brooks