Overview
- Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández left USP Hazelton on Monday after President Trump granted him a full pardon.
- Ana García said Hernández is in a safe place in the United States with protection and will not immediately return to Honduras for security reasons.
- Hernández was convicted in March 2024 and sentenced in June 2024 to 45 years, with U.S. prosecutors alleging he facilitated at least 400 tons of cocaine to the United States.
- The pardon drew condemnation from U.S. lawmakers, including Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin, while some Republicans such as Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis also criticized the decision.
- Preliminary Honduran election tallies show a narrow edge for Salvador Nasralla over National Party candidate Nasry Asfura, and critics argue Trump’s intervention could have influenced voters.