Honduras Issues Arrest Warrant for Ex-President Hernández Following U.S. Pardon

Honduras has issued an international arrest warrant for former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was recently pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump after serving a sentence for drug trafficking.

Attorney General Johel Zelaya announced the activation of a 2023 arrest order against Hernández, citing charges of fraud and money laundering. The order stipulates execution "in the case that the accused is freed by United States authorities."

Hernández was convicted in U.S. federal court last year and sentenced to 45 years for facilitating the movement of large quantities of cocaine into the United States. He was released from federal prison last week following a pardon from President Trump, who stated that Hernández had been unfairly treated by prosecutors.

The charges in Honduras are linked to the "Pandora" case, where officials and politicians were accused of diverting government funds through non-governmental organizations to political parties, including Hernández's 2013 presidential campaign.

Hernández's attorney, Renato Stabile, criticized the arrest order as a political maneuver by the opposing LIBRE party, describing it as "a desperate piece of political theatre" and asserting that the charges are "completely baseless."

Following his release, Hernández's wife stated that he is in an undisclosed location for his safety.

This development occurs amid Honduras's ongoing presidential election, where conservative candidate Nasry Asfura, endorsed by President Trump, holds a narrow lead over centrist Salvador Nasralla. An Asfura victory could influence Hernández's potential return to Honduras.