Trump Announces Plan to Pardon Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández

Background of the Conviction

Juan Orlando Hernández, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was found guilty in a Manhattan federal court of conspiring with drug traffickers and accepting multimillion‑dollar bribes.

Details of the Case

The court determined that Hernández had received millions of dollars in illicit payments and had actively collaborated with a Colombian‑based cocaine cartel to facilitate shipments into the United States. The verdict, delivered in early 2024, resulted in a 45‑year prison sentence, one of the longest terms ever imposed on a former head of state for drug‑related offenses.

Trump’s Pardon Proposal

In a recent statement, former President Donald J. Trump said he intends to use his executive‑clemency powers to grant Hernández a pardon. “I believe this case was mishandled,” Trump said, “and I want to correct a grave injustice.”

Potential Impact

Legal experts warn that a pardon could spark a constitutional showdown and reignite debates over U.S. involvement in foreign anti‑drug operations. Human‑rights groups have also condemned the move, arguing that it would undermine accountability for high‑level corruption.