Tue Dec 02 13:33:32 UTC 2025: Summary:

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving a 45-year sentence in the U.S. for drug trafficking and firearms charges, has been released from prison after being granted a presidential pardon by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The release comes shortly after a close presidential election in Honduras, where Trump has endorsed the conservative candidate Nasry Asfura, whose party had a close relationship with Hernandez during his presidency.

News Article:

Former Honduran President Hernandez Released After Trump Pardon

Washington D.C. – December 2, 2025 – Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, was released from a U.S. prison on Monday, December 1, 2025, after receiving a presidential pardon from former President Donald Trump. Hernandez had been serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and firearms charges.

The news was confirmed by Hernandez’s wife, Ana Garcia, in a social media post thanking Trump for the pardon. Hernandez’s release comes just days after a closely contested presidential election in Honduras, where Trump has voiced his support for Nasry Asfura, the candidate from the conservative National Party. Asfura’s party maintained a close relationship with Washington during Hernandez’s presidency (2014-2022).

Hernandez was arrested shortly after leaving office and sentenced in June of last year. He has consistently maintained his conviction was wrongful. The timing of the pardon has raised eyebrows given the ongoing political situation in Honduras. The election results are currently extremely tight, with both Asfura and his liberal opponent, Salvador Nasralla, holding just under 40% of the vote.

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