A former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, has been released from prison following a presidential pardon issued by Donald Trump. Hernández, who was convicted of conspiring to smuggle over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States, was freed from a facility in West Virginia on March 15, 2024. His wife, Ana García, confirmed his release through a social media post, expressing gratitude towards Trump for the pardon.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, a man matching Hernández’s name and age was released from the U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton. García’s announcement included a photo of the official release notice. She stated, “After almost four years of pain, of waiting and difficult challenges, my husband Juan Orlando Hernández RETURNED to being a free man, thanks to the presidential pardon granted by President Donald Trump.”
The timing of Trump’s pardon has raised eyebrows, particularly as the U.S. president has simultaneously ordered military actions against drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Trump justified his decision by asserting that many respected individuals believed Hernández was treated unfairly. He stated, “according to many people that I greatly respect,” Hernández’s conviction was a result of harsh treatment.
Hernández, who served two terms as Honduras’s leader, was extradited to the U.S. in March 2022 after being arrested at his home in Tegucigalpa. He had been appealing his conviction during his time in prison. Following the pardon announcement, Hernández’s family gathered outside their home to pray and celebrate his return after almost four years apart.
The pardon has sparked criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, expressed concern, questioning why Hernández was pardoned while the U.S. government continues to pursue drug traffickers. He wrote on social media, “Why would we pardon [Hernández] and then go after Maduro for running drugs into the United States? Lock up every drug runner!”
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia described the pardon as “shocking.” He highlighted that Hernández was convicted in a federal court, noting the gravity of his alleged crimes. Kaine remarked, “He was the leader of one of the largest criminal enterprises that has ever been subject to a conviction in U.S. courts.”
Trump defended his actions during a flight aboard Air Force One, suggesting that Hernández’s conviction was politically motivated. He stated, “Many of the people of Honduras said it was a Biden setup,” implying that the charges against Hernández were a result of political maneuvering rather than substantiated evidence.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt supported Trump’s position, alleging that Hernández faced “clear Biden overprosecution” and mentioning “egregious” information that surfaced during his trial.
As Hernández re-enters society, the implications of his release and the controversy surrounding the pardon continue to unfold, raising questions about U.S. foreign policy and its approach to combating drug trafficking.
