Trump pardons leader sentenced on cocaine charges amid anti-drug campaign

President Donald Trump has issued a pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving a prison sentence for cocaine trafficking. The White House maintains that the pardon does not conflict with Trumps ongoing anti-drug initiatives, which include military actions against suspected drug vessels near Venezuela.

Trump announced on November 28 his intention to pardon Hernandez, and a White House official confirmed that the pardon was officially granted on December 2. Hernandez was released from federal prison on December 1, where he was serving a 45-year sentence for importing cocaine and related weapons violations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Justice Department described Hernandez as being central to one of the worlds largest and most violent drug trafficking schemes, responsible for sending over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States.

On September 15, 2025, the U.S. military conducted a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea accused of transporting drugs, resulting in three fatalities.

Trump stated in a social media post that he issued the pardon based on advice from individuals he respects, who told him that Hernandez had been treated harshly and unjustly. Axios reported that long-time Trump advisor Roger Stone advocated for the pardon.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a December 1 press briefing, called Hernandezs case an instance of over-prosecution by the Biden administration. She added that the pardon does not weaken Trumps stance on Venezuela, which includes both naval operations and military deployments.

Leavitt emphasized, President Trump has been clear in defending the United States from illegal narcotics entering by land or sea. He also seeks to address the missteps of the previous administrations Justice Department.

Trump has highlighted cracking down on illegal drug trafficking as a key priority for his second term, implementing tariffs against nations he accuses of failing to curb fentanyl. His administration has pursued an aggressive campaign targeting alleged Venezuelan drug networks, attracting scrutiny from legal analysts and members of Congress.

During a Thanksgiving call with military personnel, Trump mentioned plans to expand the military operations around Venezuela to include land strikes.

Author: Sophia Brooks