President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, freeing him from a 45-year U.S. federal prison sentence for drug trafficking and weapons charges. The move, announced days before Honduras’ presidential election, has sparked controversy over its timing and potential influence on the vote, where Trump also endorsed Hernández’s party ally Nasry “Tito” Asfura.
Hernández’s conviction and sentence
Hernández, often called “JOH,” was convicted in 2024 after U.S. prosecutors proved he accepted millions in cocaine bribes to protect traffickers and used his power to extradite rivals while shielding allies. The judge called him a “two-faced politician hungry for power,” highlighting how he allegedly turned Honduras into a narco-state during his two terms. Trump claimed the ex-leader was treated “very harshly and unfairly,” citing unnamed respected figures.
Timing tied to Honduras election
Trump’s Truth Social post tied the pardon directly to Asfura’s campaign, warning that U.S. support for Honduras hinged on his win and congratulating Hernández on the “upcoming pardon.” Critics see it as election meddling, coming just before voters chose between Asfura’s National Party and challengers amid corruption scandals. Hernández’s lawyer hailed it as correcting a “politically motivated prosecution,” paving the way for his return home.
U.S. political backlash and policy clash
The pardon clashes with Trump’s tough-on-drugs rhetoric, especially his Caribbean counter-narcotics push against Venezuelan traffickers. White House defenders argued Hernández opposed the prior administration’s values, but legal experts warn it could undermine U.S. credibility in international drug cases. Prosecutors had labeled it one of the “largest and most prolific drug-trafficking conspiracies,” involving over 400 tons of cocaine.
What happens next for Hernández
Now free, Hernández could return to Honduras as a political figure, boosting Asfura’s party despite his tarnished legacy. The decision adds to Trump’s pardon list of allies and highlights his willingness to use clemency for foreign policy leverage. Families affected by the drug trade and U.S.-Honduras relations watch closely as the election unfolds.