Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison last year for his involvement in a drug-trafficking scheme that transported large quantities of cocaine to the United States, has been released from prison following a pardon issued by President Donald Trump, officials revealed on Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons inmate website, Hernández was discharged from U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia on Monday. A bureau spokesperson confirmed his release on Tuesday. Hernández’s wife, Ana García, expressed gratitude to Trump for granting the pardon in a post on the social platform X early Tuesday.
In her statement, García shared a photo of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons record indicating Hernández’s release and expressed relief that her husband, after enduring nearly four years of hardship and uncertainty, had regained his freedom due to the presidential pardon from Trump.
When questioned by journalists while traveling on Air Force One, Trump stated that he was approached by Honduras and its people, who believed that Hernández had been unfairly targeted and that the situation was unjust.
Renato Stabile, Hernández’s lawyer, mentioned in an email that he could not disclose the ex-president’s current whereabouts. Stabile conveyed Hernández’s relief that the “ordeal” was finally over and extended gratitude to President Trump for rectifying what they perceived as an injustice.
Hernández was apprehended at the request of the United States in February 2022, shortly after Xiomara Castro assumed the presidency in Honduras. Subsequently, he was convicted in a New York federal court two years later for accepting bribes from drug traffickers to facilitate the transportation of around 360 tons of cocaine through Honduras to the U.S.
During his trial in February 2024, a U.S. prosecutor alleged that Hernández had openly collaborated with drug dealers, boasting about their joint efforts to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Despite maintaining his innocence and claiming to be a victim of vengeful drug traffickers he had assisted in extradition, Hernández was found guilty by a jury in less than two days.
Trump hinted at a possible conspiracy against Hernández by prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department during Biden’s administration. However, the verdict of the jury contradicted this narrative. Federal Judge P. Kevin Castel emphasized during sentencing that the punishment should serve as a warning to influential individuals who believe their status shields them from accountability.
While Hernández portrayed himself as a crusader against drug trafficking, evidence presented during the trial suggested otherwise. The judge highlighted Hernández’s deception in appearing to combat drug trafficking while allegedly deploying national security forces to safeguard the illicit trade.
In a separate trial, Hernández’s brother was convicted for distributing 165 tons of cocaine and ordered to forfeit millions in illegal drug proceeds. The decision to pardon Hernández drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with Sen. Tim Kaine labeling it “shocking.” Republican reactions varied, with some supporting Trump’s decision while others, like Sen. Bill Cassidy, condemned the move.
The pardon’s timing, just before Honduras’s presidential election, introduced a new dynamic to the campaign. Hernández’s return to Honduras remains uncertain, with Attorney General Johel Zelaya indicating a commitment to pursuing justice and ending impunity. Investigations into corruption allegations during Hernández’s tenure did not result in charges against him. The presidential election took place as scheduled, with Trump endorsing a candidate from the National Party.