U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year prison sentence after being convicted in a U.S. federal court of aiding large-scale cocaine trafficking to the United States.
Hernández was extradited to the United States in 2022, shortly after leaving office. Federal prosecutors presented evidence that he had accepted millions of dollars in bribes from drug traffickers, including notorious Mexican cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The pardon has sparked controversy both in the United States and Honduras. Critics argue that it sends a troubling message about accountability for leaders involved in drug trafficking. Human rights organizations expressed disappointment at the decision.
"This pardon undermines years of work to combat drug trafficking and corruption in Central America," said a representative from a drug policy advocacy group.
Hernández served as president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022. During his trial, prosecutors described him as a "co-conspirator" who helped flood the United States with cocaine in exchange for bribes that funded his political campaigns.
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