Former US President Donald Trump has said he will give a full pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras. Hernández is currently in a US prison, serving a 45-year sentence for drug and weapons crimes. Trump made this announcement on his social media platform just days before an important general election in Honduras.
In his post, Trump said that Hernández has been treated very unfairly and that his punishment is too severe. This is very different from what US prosecutors said in court. During the trial earlier this year, they described Hernández's time as president as very corrupt. They said he took millions of dollars in bribes to protect drug traffickers. This helped move huge amounts of cocaine to the United States.
Political experts believe Trump's timing is a direct way to influence the Honduran election. In the same statement, Trump showed his support for the conservative candidate, Nasry "Tito" Asfura. He also criticized other candidates. More importantly, Trump said that future American help for Honduras will depend on Asfura winning the election. He warned that the US would not offer support if the country chooses the "wrong Leader."
This promise creates a complicated situation. When he was president, Hernández was a key partner for Trump's administration, especially on immigration. A pardon for a leader convicted of the very crimes Trump fought against seems contradictory. As Hondurans get ready to vote, the world is watching to see how this unusual move will affect the election and the relationship between the two countries.