In a surprising turn of events, the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, is in a difficult legal situation. Although he was recently freed from a long prison sentence in the United States, he now faces the possibility of arrest and extradition to Honduras on different serious charges. This complex story involves two countries' legal systems and has created diplomatic tension.
Hernández led Honduras from 2014 to 2022. After his term ended, he was sent to the United States to face trial. A New York court found him guilty for his key part in a major drug network that sent large amounts of cocaine to the U.S. He was given a 45-year prison sentence, which seemed to end his political career. However, on December 1, 2025, outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump used his power to pardon Hernández, which led to his release.
The former president quickly shared a video on social media. He expressed his happiness, saying, "Thanks to you, Lord, today I’m a free man," and thanked the former U.S. president. Hernández has always claimed that the case against him in the U.S. was political. But his freedom in America may not last long because Honduras has started its own legal action.
Just one week after the pardon, Honduras' Attorney General, Johel Antonio Zelaya, announced an international arrest warrant for Hernández. The charges in Honduras are separate from the drug case. They accuse him of using over twelve million dollars of public money for his political campaigns. Zelaya stated he has asked Interpol to carry out the arrest warrant. In response, Hernández's wife says he will not return to Honduras soon due to safety concerns and that he is in a secure place in the U.S.
This creates a sensitive international situation. The United States must now consider a possible extradition request after just pardoning him. For Honduras, seeking his arrest shows a strong commitment to fighting corruption, even during a tense political period. The case highlights the complicated relationship between national justice, international law, and presidential power. Hernández's future now depends on the conflict between one country's pardon and another country's arrest warrant.