Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison last year for his involvement in a drug-trafficking ring that smuggled large amounts of cocaine to the United States, has been released from prison after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons inmate website, Hernández was released from U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia on Monday. A spokesperson for the bureau later confirmed his release.
His wife, Ana García, expressed gratitude to Trump for pardoning Hernández through a post on the social platform X early Tuesday. In her post, García mentioned that after enduring nearly four years of hardship and challenges, her husband had regained his freedom due to the presidential pardon granted by President Donald Trump. She also shared a picture of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons listing indicating Hernández’s release.
When questioned by reporters on Air Force One, Trump explained that he had granted the pardon at the request of Honduras, as many Hondurans believed Hernández was falsely implicated in the case.
Hernández’s attorney, Renato Stabile, conveyed in a statement that he could not disclose Hernández’s current whereabouts. Stabile expressed Hernández’s relief that the “ordeal” was finally over and conveyed gratitude to President Trump for rectifying what they deemed an injustice.
Hernández was apprehended in February 2022 at the behest of the United States, shortly after Xiomara Castro assumed the presidency in Honduras. Following a trial in a New York federal court two years later, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison for accepting bribes from drug traffickers to facilitate the transportation of approximately 360 tonnes of cocaine through Honduras to the U.S.
Despite maintaining his innocence and claiming to be a target of retaliation by drug traffickers he had assisted in extraditing to the U.S., Hernández was found guilty by a jury after less than two days of deliberation.
During the sentencing, the federal Judge P. Kevin Castel emphasized that the punishment should serve as a deterrent to individuals in positions of power who believe they are immune to consequences for their unlawful actions.
The pardon of Hernández by Trump has drawn criticism from Democrats, with Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine labeling the decision as “shocking” and questioning the administration’s stance on narco-trafficking. Republican reactions varied, with some supporting Trump’s decision, while others, like Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, expressed strong disapproval.
The pardon’s timing, just before Honduras’s presidential election, has added a new dimension to the electoral race. Trump’s endorsement of the National Party’s Nasry Asfura further complicates the political landscape as the election results are currently being tallied.
Hernández’s return to Honduras is uncertain, with the country’s Attorney General emphasizing the pursuit of justice and accountability. Investigations into corruption allegations during Hernández’s tenure have not resulted in formal charges against him. President Castro, who oversaw Hernández’s extradition, will continue leading the country until January.
The unfolding developments surrounding Hernández’s release and the impact on the Honduran political scenario are closely monitored as the country navigates through these significant events.