Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was released Monday in the United States, where he was serving a prison sentence. 45 year sentence Imprisonment on charges Drug and firearms traffickingAccording to a Federal Bureau of Prisons official.
for him wifeAna Garcia de Hernandez announced this through Posted in Social network S.
“My husband, Juan Orlando Hernandez, is a free man again. Thanks to the presidential pardon granted“, he expressed in a tweet.
Garcia de Hernandez thanked God, as well as Trump, “for restoring hope and recognizing the truth we have always known,” adding that “the truth always triumphs.”
In the letter written by the former First Lady of Honduras, she also participated Guest registration number to Juan Orlando where he was reported to have been released From a maximum security federal prison On December 1 in Virginia County.
God is faithful and never disappoints!
Yesterday, Monday, December 1, 2025, we lived a day we will never forget. After nearly four years of pain, waiting and difficult trials, my husband, Juan Orlando Hernandez, is a free man again, thanks to a presidential pardon granted… pic.twitter.com/OBjdAShAWo
– Ana Garcia de Hernandez (@anagarciacarias) December 2, 2025
Presidential pardon
Hernandez arrived and was extradited in April 2022 to the United States, where he is in the country March 2024 sentenced To 45 years in prison on three counts of drug and weapons trafficking, plus five years of supervised release and an eight million dollar fine.
However, last Saturday, Pres Donald Trump announced that he would pardon him After confirming that the government of former President Joe Biden “set a trap” for the former Honduran president who ruled the country between 2014 and 2022.
It was Hernandez himself who Ask for forgiveness From the American President with a letter in which he praised him and reminded him of the cooperation between the two countries during his first term.
“If someone is selling drugs (in a country), that doesn’t mean the president should be arrested and imprisoned for life,” Trump said of the Hernandez case.
The US President revealed his intention to pardon in a post on the Social Truth Network, in which he also expressed his intention He supported the candidate Nasri “Tito” AsfouraHernandez’s successor in the Honduran National Party, before the elections that took place last Sunday.
“I’ll give a A comprehensive and complete amnesty “To former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who, according to many people I have great respect for, was treated very harshly and unfairly,” Trump said.
“This cannot be allowed, especially now,” he added. After Tito Asfora won the electionswhen Honduras is heading towards great political and financial success.
He added: “If Tito Asvora wins the presidency of Honduras, because the United States has great confidence in him and his policies and what he will do for the people of Honduras, we will be very supportive of him. If he does not win, the United States will not continue to allocate resources.”
However, amnesty occurred Before knowing the result The Honduran elections took place on Sunday, November 30.
As of December 2, the count was halted due to a technical malfunction and the audit shows that it was conducted virtually “Technical equalizer” In very equal proportions in both candidates —Nasri Asfoura and Salvador Nasrallah.
Combating drug smuggling
Prosecutors accused Hernandez of conspiring with drug cartels during his tenure and carrying out the transportation More than 400 tons of cocaine Through Honduras to the United States.
In return, according to prosecutors, Hernandez received millions of dollars in bribes that he used to advance his rise in Honduran politics.
he Trump ad This comes at a time when his administration has focused in recent months on what it described as a campaign Combating drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
As part of these efforts, the United States appointed the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduroand its government allies such as Members of a foreign terrorist organizationThe administration has intensified its efforts to force Maduro from office.
In the middle Escalating the war on drugs —With the bombing of more than twenty alleged drug boats, which left more than 80 people dead—The pardon granted by Trump, who ordered the bombing of alleged drug dealers in the Caribbean, is surprising, however Sorry, just one In Washington.