Honduras Issues International 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 and released from U.S. custody. Attorney General Johel Zelaya announced the move on Monday, instructing national authorities and Interpol to execute a 2023 arrest order related to charges of fraud and money laundering.

Hernández had been serving a 45-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking offenses before receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump.

The charges in Honduras stem from the "Pandora" case, in which officials are accused of diverting public funds through non-governmental organizations to finance political campaigns, including Hernández's 2013 presidential bid.

Hernández's attorney, Renato Stabile, criticized the arrest warrant as a political maneuver by the opposing LIBRE party, describing the charges as "completely baseless."

The situation unfolds amid a closely contested presidential election in Honduras, with conservative candidate Nasry Asfura, endorsed by Trump, holding a narrow lead over his opponent.

Hernández's current whereabouts are undisclosed, with his wife stating he is in a "safe place" for security reasons.