Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández released from US prison after Trump pardon

December 2, 2025

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has been freed from a West Virginia prison after receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, despite being convicted in 2024 of cocaine trafficking conspiracy and weapons charges that carried a 45-year sentence. Trump claimed Hernández was treated unfairly and suggested the prosecution was orchestrated by the Biden administration, dismissing charges that prosecutors said demonstrated Hernández ran Honduras as a "narco-state" while accepting millions in bribes. The pardon comes during a politically sensitive moment, as Honduras faces an extremely close presidential election with only hundreds of votes separating candidates.

Who is affected

Juan Orlando Hernández (former Honduran president, pardoned and released from prison)
Ana García de Hernández (Hernández's wife)
Drug trafficking victims in the US and Honduras
Honduran voters and citizens
Presidential candidates Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla
Current Honduran President Xiomara Castro
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

What action is being taken

Honduras is conducting a presidential election that is currently in a "technical tie"
The Trump administration is conducting a military build-up in the Caribbean
The Trump administration is conducting strikes on vessels allegedly used for smuggling

Why it matters

This pardon is significant because it overturns the conviction of a former head of state who prosecutors said operated his country as a "narco-state" and facilitated hundreds of tonnes of cocaine trafficking to the US. The timing during Honduras's extremely close election, combined with Trump's public endorsement of candidates, represents direct US intervention in Latin American politics and signals a dramatic shift in how the US addresses drug-related prosecutions of foreign leaders. The decision undermines years of US law enforcement efforts and sends a message about accountability for high-level officials involved in drug trafficking.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC