Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, pardoned by US President Donald Trump, returned to his country after his drug conviction in the US. Hernandez, who was greeted by his family and party supporters at Palmerola International Airport on Sunday, July 26, 2026, governed Honduras from 2014 to 2022.
Conviction in the US and Trump's Pardon
After leaving the presidency, Hernandez was extradited to the US and found guilty by a federal jury of involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking scheme. Prosecutors described the scheme as "one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking conspiracies in the world." The US Department of Justice stated that Hernandez used his powers in Honduras to facilitate the entry of more than 400 tons of cocaine into the US. Hernandez denied the bribery allegations and argued that he had suppressed drug trafficking.
In December, Trump pardoned Hernandez. Trump claimed that the former Honduran leader did not receive a fair trial and was "set up" by the Biden administration. During the same period, Trump also supported right-wing candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura from Hernandez's party. Asfura narrowly won the November elections and took office in January.
Corruption Trial in Honduras and Reactions
Hernandez still faces corruption charges in Honduras. The Pandora Papers investigation revealed that the former leader diverted nearly $11 million in public funds to election campaigns between 2010 and 2013. Hernandez, whose arrest warrant was suspended last month, is expected to appear in court on August 3.
The Trump administration is criticized for pardoning Hernandez while kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas in January on similar drug charges. Human rights activists and lawyers fear that the trial in Honduras, where Hernandez's own party is in power, will be a sham.
US constitutional expert Bruce Fein said that the president's use of the pardon power to protect political allies could be grounds for impeachment. Fein said, "If Democrats win a majority in Congress in the midterm elections, Trump will face the threat of impeachment for pardoning Hernandez."
