International News: Pardoned former Honduran President convicted on drug charges says he is “thankful”
By Zoila Palma: Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has defended his innocence after receiving a controversial pardon from US President Donald Trump while serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking convictions. Hernández, who was released from a maximum-security prison in West Virginia in December 2025, told the BBC he […] The post International News: Pardoned former Honduran President convicted on drug charges says he is “thankful” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Black News 
By Zoila Palma: Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has defended his innocence after receiving a controversial pardon from US President Donald Trump while serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug trafficking convictions.
Hernández, who was released from a maximum-security prison in West Virginia in December 2025, told the BBC he is “thankful” and focused on rebuilding his life after nearly four years behind bars.
Trump announced the “full and complete pardon” on social media on November 28, 2025, just days before Honduras held a closely watched general election.
The move sparked criticism from human rights organizations and protests by Hondurans both in the United States and at home. Demonstrators accused the former president of turning Honduras into a “narco-state” and condemned the pardon as an insult to victims of corruption and violence linked to drug trafficking.
Hernández was convicted in March 2024 of participating in a conspiracy that prosecutors said helped move hundreds of tonnes of cocaine into the United States. US prosecutors alleged that he worked alongside major drug traffickers, including associates of notorious Mexican cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, in exchange for bribes and political support. During sentencing, a US judge described Hernández as a “two-faced politician” who used state institutions to protect traffickers.
Hernández rejected all accusations against him, calling them politically motivated and based on testimony from criminals seeking reduced sentences. He insisted that his administration actively fought drug trafficking and pointed to the extradition law passed during his presidency as evidence of his commitment. Hernández also denied ever receiving money from El Chapo and dismissed allegations linking him to drug ledgers and witness testimony used during the trial.
Despite his release, Hernández still faces corruption-related charges in Honduras and remains a divisive figure in the country.
The post International News: Pardoned former Honduran President convicted on drug charges says he is “thankful” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
