Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández Released after US Pardon

Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, was convicted in the United States of drug trafficking and weapons offenses in March 2024 and sentenced to 45 years. He served about 19 months before U.S. President Donald Trump granted him a full pardon in November 2025, leading to his release.

In June 2026 the Honduran Supreme Court suspended the arrest warrant against Hernández, allowing him to return to Honduras without detention. He plans to face pending fraud and money‑laundering charges in the Pandora II case, while maintaining his innocence.

During his two‑decade rule, Hernández was a key U.S. ally and received hundreds of millions of dollars in American military aid, despite U.S. authorities alleging he diverted state institutions to serve major drug cartels.