The former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, regained his freedom this Monday after United States President Donald Trump granted him a full pardon, according to updated records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The release, effective as of December 1, took place at the federal prison in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, where he was serving a sentence for charges related to drug trafficking and weapons.
Although no official details are yet known about his whereabouts or the next judicial steps, the BOP update confirms that Hernández is no longer under federal custody. At 57 years old, the former president had been extradited in April 2022 and sentenced in March 2024 to 45 years in prison, in addition to a fine of eight million dollars.
Trump's influence and a gesture that redefines alliances
The release comes after Trump publicly announced his decision, arguing that Joe Biden's administration had "set a trap" for the former Honduran president. The Republican leader had already criticized the judicial process promoted during the Democratic administration on several occasions, stating that it was driven by political motivations.
Trump reaffirmed his position days ago through a message on Truth Social, where he also reiterated his support for the conservative ticket of Nasry "Tito" Asfura and Salvador Nasralla, who are competing in Honduran elections that show a virtual technical tie. Trump's intervention once again positions him as an influential actor in Central American politics.
