Trump Announces Pardon for Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, Convicted of Trafficking 400 Tons of Cocaine

Donald Trump has announced his intention to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted by a U.S. jury of conspiring to traffic approximately 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. This decision comes despite Hernández currently serving a 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The Justice Department had previously estimated this volume of cocaine represents 4.5 billion individual doses.

The announcement was met with strong reactions, particularly from those involved in the prosecution. A Drug Enforcement Administration agent, who wished to remain anonymous, reportedly called the pardon "lunacy," while former DEA chief of international operations Mike Vigil warned it would "destroy the credibility of the U.S. in the international community." The pardon was revealed via a social media post by Mr. Trump on Friday.

Hernández, who served as Honduras's president from 2014 to 2022, was extradited to the U.S. in April 2022 to face charges. During his trial, prosecutors in New York characterized his administration as a "narco-state," alleging he accepted millions in bribes from drug traffickers, including notorious cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, to shield their operations. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that Hernández "abused his power to support one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking conspiracies in the world."

The pardon also draws scrutiny given Mr. Trump's broader stance on drug trafficking, which includes a campaign to target suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean. This initiative has reportedly resulted in over 80 fatalities since its inception. Critics, including former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Todd Robinson, highlighted the perceived contradiction, stating, "We blow up ‘alleged’ drug boats in the Caribbean but pardon actually convicted drug traffickers in the U.S. Someone help me make sense of this."

Mr. Trump's announcement also coincided with his endorsement of conservative presidential candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura in Honduras's upcoming general election, linking the pardon to broader political maneuvering in the region. Hernández's conviction in March 2024 followed a three-week jury trial, where he was found guilty of conspiring to import cocaine and possessing machine guns, cementing his role in a vast criminal enterprise.