Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison last year for his involvement in a drug-trafficking scheme that transported large amounts of cocaine to the United States, has been released from prison following a pardon from President Donald Trump, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons inmate website indicated that Hernández was released from U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia on Monday, with a bureau spokesperson confirming his release on Tuesday.
Expressing gratitude for the pardon, Hernández’s wife, Ana García, thanked Trump via the social platform X early Tuesday, stating, “After nearly four years of suffering, waiting, and facing tough challenges, my husband Juan Orlando Hernández has regained his freedom due to the presidential pardon issued by President Donald Trump,” as depicted in a picture of Hernández’s release listing by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
When questioned by reporters on Air Force One, Trump mentioned that he pardoned Hernández at the request of Honduras, with many Hondurans believing Hernández was wrongly accused and that it was an unjust situation.
Hernández’s lawyer, Renato Stabile, mentioned in an email that he could not disclose Hernández’s current whereabouts but shared that Hernández is relieved that the “ordeal” has concluded. Stabile also conveyed gratitude on behalf of Hernández and his family to President Trump for rectifying what they believe was an injustice.
Hernández was apprehended in February 2022 at the U.S.’s behest, shortly after Xiomara Castro assumed the presidency in Honduras. Subsequently, he was handed a 45-year prison sentence in a New York federal court for accepting bribes from drug traffickers to facilitate the movement of around 360 tons of cocaine from Honduras to the U.S.
During the trial’s commencement in February 2024, a U.S. prosecutor revealed that Hernández had bragged to drug dealers about their collaborative efforts to transport drugs to the U.S. However, Hernández consistently maintained his innocence, alleging that he was targeted by vengeful drug traffickers whom he had helped extradite to the U.S.
Trump’s recent statements insinuated that Hernández was framed by U.S. prosecutors during the Biden administration, but the jury swiftly convicted him within two days. The sentencing judge emphasized that the punishment should serve as a deterrent to individuals in power who believe they are immune to justice.
Hernández portrayed himself as an anti-drug trafficking crusader who cooperated with U.S. authorities to combat drug imports. However, trial evidence contradicted his claims, revealing that he actively protected the drug trade by utilizing Honduras’s law enforcement and military.
The ex-president’s brother had previously been convicted for distributing 165 tons of cocaine and was ordered to forfeit $138.5 million in illegal drug trafficking proceeds.
Trump’s decision to pardon Hernández drew criticism from Democrats, with Senator Tim Kaine labeling it “shocking” and highlighting the severity of Hernández’s criminal activities. Republican reactions varied, with some supporting Trump’s decision while others, like Senator Bill Cassidy, expressed strong disapproval.
As the pardon potentially influences Honduras’s political landscape, uncertainties loom over Hernández’s return to the country, with the Attorney General emphasizing the need for justice and accountability, hinting at potential charges against Hernández. President Castro, overseeing the transition, will continue in office until January.
The pardon, issued just before Honduras’s presidential election, has introduced a new dynamic into the electoral race, with Trump endorsing a candidate from the National Party. The election process is ongoing.