In brief
In a surprising move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the ex-president of Honduras, who is currently serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking convictions. Trump criticized Hernández's treatment during his court proceedings, labeling it unfair. The pardon comes as Honduras prepares for elections, where Trump has also voiced support for conservative candidate Nasry 'Tito' Asfura.
Donald Trump has said that he will pardon the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking charges in a US court last year.
The US president said Hernández had been 'treated very harshly and unfairly' in a social media post announcing the move on Friday.
Hernández was found guilty in March 2024 of conspiring to import cocaine into the US, and of possessing machine guns. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Trump also threw his support behind conservative presidential candidate Nasry 'Tito' Asfura in the Central American nation's general election, due to be held on Sunday.
Hernández, a member of the National Party, served as Honduras's president from 2014 to 2022 and was extradited to the US in April 2022 to stand trial for running a violent drug trafficking conspiracy.
Polls indicate the Honduran election remains a toss-up between three candidates including Asfura, the former mayor of Tegucigalpa.
Trump criticized other candidates, calling one a 'borderline Communist' and praising Asfura for his stance against Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro.
The Trump administration has often targeted drug trafficking in Latin America, leading to military presences aimed at combatting organized crime.
Honduras's current president, Xiomara Castro, has remained cooperative with the US despite leaning towards leftist policies.
