Honduras Seeks Ex-President Hernández's Arrest After Trump Pardon Sparks Outrage

Honduras' Attorney General Johel Zelaya has ordered authorities to arrest ex-President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was recently pardoned by US President Donald Trump. Hernández was released from US federal prison last week after serving just a fraction of his 45-year sentence for helping smuggle tons of cocaine into the United States. The move comes as a surprise, given Hernández's transformation from a US ally in the war on drugs to a convicted drug trafficker. He was detained and extradited to the US in 2022 by current President Xiomara Castro's administration, which has been critical of Hernández's actions. The arrest warrant, issued in 2023, alleges fraud and money laundering charges against Hernández. It was signed by a Supreme Court magistrate and includes a note that it should be executed if Hernández is released by US authorities. Hernández's pardon by Trump has sparked widespread outrage in Honduras, with many viewing it as a politically motivated decision. Dozens of Honduran officials and politicians were implicated in the Pandora case, which involved the diversion of government funds through a network of nongovernmental organizations to political parties, including Hernández's 2013 presidential campaign. Hernández's lawyer, Renato C Stabile, has accused the current Honduran administration of launching a "strictly political move" to intimidate the former president. However, the Attorney General's office maintains that it is committed to ending impunity and ensuring that those responsible for corruption are held accountable. Hernández's wife has confirmed that he is in an undisclosed location for his safety, and he has consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the proceedings. Trump had claimed that Hondurans had requested the pardon, citing concerns that Hernández had been unfairly treated by prosecutors.