Former Honduran President pardoned by Trump released from prison in the US

Juan Orlando Hernandez, the ex-president of Honduras who was convicted of aiding in the smuggling of approximately 400 tons of cocaine into the United States, has been released from prison following a pardon granted by President Donald Trump, according to his wife.

Hernandez exited a West Virginia correctional facility on Monday, and his wife shared on social media that he is "once again a free man." The release was confirmed on the US Bureau of Prisons website for a man matching Hernandez's identity and age.

Trump's decision to pardon Hernandez comes amid ongoing US operations targeting suspected drug trafficking in the Caribbean. The US president has also shown strong support for a candidate from Hernandez's political party in the tightly contested Honduran presidential election.

The pardon was unexpected, considering Trump's public stance against Latin American drug trafficking. US military forces are deployed in the southern Caribbean, conducting operations against vessels allegedly transporting drugs, actions that have drawn criticism from international law experts.

Meanwhile, the Honduran election remains highly contested. Right-wing candidate Nasry Asfura, supported by Trump, currently leads by just 515 votes. Trump issued a warning against altering the election outcome, while the ruling party candidate, Rixi Moncada, criticized the US involvement as interventionist.

Hernandez, who governed Honduras from 2014 to 2022 and is affiliated with the same party as Asfura, faced accusations from US authorities of facilitating massive cocaine shipments to the United States. He was extradited shortly after leaving office, convicted, and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Trump defended the pardon, stating that Hernandez "has been, according to many people that I greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly." Ana Garcia de Hernandez, his wife, described the release as "a day we will never forget" after nearly four years of hardship.

The pardon has drawn criticism from lawmakers. Senator Ed Markey questioned the logic of pardoning Hernandez while authorizing military strikes in the Caribbean, calling the actions inconsistent. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy also criticized the move, highlighting the contrast between targeting Venezuelan drug operations and pardoning Hernandez.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president's decision, claiming Hernandez was subjected to excessive prosecution under the Biden administration due to opposing its policies during his presidency.

Author: Sophia Brooks