What is Honduras ex-president accused of and why has Trump pardoned him?

BBC News - WorldEN 5 min read 100% complete December 2, 2025 at 07:34 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted in the US in 2024 for drug trafficking, was pardoned by former President Donald Trump. Hernández was accused of being a key figure in a scheme that smuggled over 400 tons of cocaine into the US. US prosecutors alleged he accepted a $1 million bribe from "El Chapo" Guzmán to protect drug routes through Honduras. Hernández served as president from 2014 to 2022, maintaining a relationship with the US under both Obama and Trump. Despite his conviction and 45-year sentence, Trump claimed Hernández was a victim of political persecution, leading to the controversial pardon.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

El Chapo ×260% Honduras ×270% Donald Trump ×380% Juan Orlando Hernández ×7100%

Keywords

juan orlando hernández 100% drug trafficking 100% donald trump pardon 90% honduras 80% cocaine 70% el chapo 60% political persecution 60% extradition 50% us court 40%