Trump‘s pardon of Honduran Ex-President Challenges U.S. Drug War Stance
Former President Donald Trump’s recent pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, the ex-president of Honduras convicted of drug trafficking, has sparked criticism and raised questions about the U.S.’s commitment to combating narcotics. The pardon, granted this week, comes despite Hernández’s conviction based on testimony from witnesses described as “largely convicted drug traffickers” and deemed “not credible” by the Trump administration itself when justifying the clemency.
hernández’s wife, Ana García de Hernández, celebrated the pardon as a return to freedom after “nearly four years of pain, waiting, and tough trials.”
The pardon appears to be connected to a broader effort by the Trump administration to influence the outcome of Honduras’ recent presidential election. Prior to the november vote,trump publicly threatened to withhold aid from Honduras if voters did not elect Nasry “tito” Asfura of the National Party,a party that includes Hernández as a member. He also criticized the current Honduran president, xiamora Castro. As of Tuesday, election results showed Asfura in a tight race wiht Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla, while Castro trailed behind.
This intervention in Honduras is part of a larger pattern of Trump’s assertive foreign policy in Latin America since returning to the White House. He has actively pursued deals with right-wing leaders like Javier Millei of Argentina and Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, while simultaneously imposing tariffs and sanctions on leftist governments. Trump and his administration have also openly supported right-wing candidates in recent elections in Argentina and Peru.
Critics, like Frank, describe Trump’s actions as “a bullying of the democratic process” and a threat to the “sovereignty of thes countries.”
The pardon of Hernández is also consistent with Trump’s history of intervening in the justice system through pardons and commutations. His pardon attorney, Ed Martin, has advocated for investigations targeting Trump’s political opponents while simultaneously pushing for leniency for allies, stating “No MAGA left behind” on social media.
Legal experts suggest Trump’s clemency actions are frequently directed towards individuals accused of abuses of power and white-collar crimes – offenses similar to those Trump himself has faced. Recent examples include commutations for former congressman George Santos, convicted of fraud, and David Gentile, a private equity executive convicted in a $1.6-billion fraud scheme. He also pardoned Changpeng Zhao, a crypto executive who pleaded guilty to money laundering and had ties to the Trump family, and Paul Walczak, a nursing home executive convicted of tax crimes.
The clemency actions have created division within Trump’s base, with some viewing them as protection for conservative voices facing perceived political persecution, while others criticize the president for seemingly prioritizing wealthy allies amidst widespread economic hardship.
Linthicum reported from Mexico City and Wilner from Washington.
