Honduras' former president Juan Orlando Hernandez walks out of prison in the U.S. after being pardoned by President Donald Trump. He had been serving a 45-year sentence in a U.S. prison. The pardon comes as Honduras continues counting votes in its general elections.

Tegucigalpa

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence for conspiring to transport cocaine to the United States, has been released less than four years into his conviction. The release follows a total and unconditional pardon granted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed the conviction was politically motivated and unfair.

The decision has caused significant controversy in Honduras, where many citizens expressed shock and concern that the pardon could undermine accountability for corruption and crime. Political leaders from Hernández's National Party stated the party has reformed and emphasized that Hernández still faces a pending warrant and will be subject to due process if he returns.

Ex-Honduras president moved to safe location after Trump pardon

He was set to be released in 2060, but less than four years into his conviction, former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has been freed. U.S. President Donald Trump granted him a total and unconditional pardon, saying his conviction was a setup by the Biden administration. He said Hernández was treated harshly and unfairly. If you have some drug dealers in your country and you're the president, you don't necessarily put the president in jail for 45 years. That was a Biden-inspired witch hunt. U.S. prosecutor had won a 45-year conviction against Hernández for conspiring to transport 400 tons of cocaine to the U.S. Hernández's wife, Ana García, thanked God and Trump. Thank you, President Trump, for this important decision to vindicate a man you met and fought together similar issues. Hernández had enjoyed U.S. support until he left office in 2022. He was then extradited, U.S. authorities saying he had allowed drug shipments through the country. Many Hondurans say they are in shock. If he was in jail, it was because he was being punished for doing something wrong. So with that pardon, we're showing other people that what he did wasn't wrong after all. And then we're encouraging people to continue behaving that way. Many people here say they can't forget the violence that erupted when Juan Orlando Hernández stole 2017's presidential election. Back then, Hondurans protested unsuccessfully. Many here now say they don't want him to come back. National Party presidential candidate Nazli Asfura said they were left with no other option but to accept Trump's decision. His vice presidential candidate Maria Antonieta Mejia says now that Hondurans want a new government to fight corruption, the National Party where Hernández belonged has changed. The National Party has undergone a complete transformation, bringing in revamped figures who have no connection to any accusations of corruption. Mejia says her party won't deny Hernández his right to come back, but there is a warrant pending against him. She says if Asfura wins the presidency, they will guarantee Hernández due process, but he will face justice. Mariana Sánchez Aljazeera, Tegucigalpa.

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