Trump's Surprising Move: Pardoning a Convicted Ex-President
President Donald Trump has announced that he will pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras. Hernandez was found guilty in 2024 of serious crimes related to drugs and weapons, receiving a 45-year prison sentence. Trump stated on social media that he made this decision because he believes Hernandez was treated unfairly.
Background on Hernandez
Hernandez was once the leader of Honduras, a Central American country with about 10 million people. He was convicted in a U.S. court for his role in drug trafficking into the United States. He has been imprisoned in West Virginia while appealing his conviction.
Legal Response
One of Hernandez's lawyers, Renato C. Stabile, thanked Trump for the pardon, calling it a correction of a great injustice. Stabile also expressed hope for a strong future relationship between the United States and Honduras.
Another lawyer for Hernandez, Sabrina Shroff, did not comment on the matter.
Trump's Broader Message
Trump's announcement was part of a larger statement. He also expressed support for Nasry "Tito" Asfura, who is running for president in Honduras. Trump said the U.S. would support Honduras if Asfura wins the election. However, if Asfura loses, Trump warned that the U.S. would not continue investing in Honduras.
Honduran Presidential Race
Asfura, 67 years old, is running for president for the second time. He was once the mayor of Tegucigalpa and has promised to improve Honduras' infrastructure. However, he has faced accusations of misusing public funds, which he denies.
Besides Asfura, there are two other main candidates for Honduras' presidency:
- Rixi Moncada, former finance and defense secretary, running for the Libre party.
- Salvador Nasralla, a former TV personality, running for the Liberal Party.
Trump's Warnings and Actions
Trump suggested that if Asfura loses, Honduras could face a similar fate as Venezuela. He has been pressuring Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's leader, by ordering strikes on suspected drug boats and increasing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean.
Current Honduran Leadership
The current president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, has taken a leftist stance but has maintained cooperation with the U.S. She has received visits from high-ranking U.S. officials and has backed off threats to end military cooperation with the U.S.
Under Castro's leadership, Honduras has been dealing with the deportation of its citizens from the U.S. and acting as a transit point for deported Venezuelans.
International Support for Asfura
Interestingly, Argentine President Javier Milei, a known admirer of Trump, also supported Asfura in Honduras.
