In a surprising change, the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, is in a difficult legal situation. He was recently freed from a long prison sentence in the United States because the president pardoned him. But now, he faces possible arrest and extradition to Honduras on different, serious charges. This story involves two countries' legal systems and is causing diplomatic problems.
Hernández was the president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022. After his term, the United States extradited him. A court in New York found him guilty for his important part in a major drug network. The network sent large amounts of cocaine to the United States. The court gave him a 45-year prison sentence. Many people thought this was the end of his story. However, on December 1st, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump used his power to pardon Hernández and set him free.
The former president quickly posted a video online. He said, "Thanks to you, Lord, today I’m a free man," and thanked the former U.S. president. He claims his trial in the U.S. was political. But his freedom in America may not last long.
Only one week after the pardon, Honduras' Attorney General announced an international arrest warrant for Hernández. The new charges in Honduras are not about drugs. They are about using over twelve million dollars of public money for his political campaigns. Honduras has asked Interpol to help arrest him. Hernández's wife says he will not return to Honduras soon because of safety concerns. He is staying in a safe place in the United States.
This creates a tricky situation. The United States must decide if it will extradite a man it just pardoned. For Honduras, this is a strong effort to fight corruption, even during a tense election period. Hernández's future now depends on the pardon from one country and the arrest warrant from another.