Trump-pardoned ex-president returns home to face corruption charges

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who received a pardon from former U.S. President Donald Trump last year, has returned to his home country ahead of a corruption trial scheduled for early August. Hernández landed via private jet near the capital, Tegucigalpa, before heading to a rally in Comayagua. Hundreds of his supporters attended the event, where the former president expressed gratitude to Trump, quoting him as saying, "The world's best-oriented president said: 'I reviewed the case – my team and I reviewed it in detail – and a huge injustice has been committed here. It's a witch hunt, it's the use of the justice system as a political weapon.'" Hernández, who served as president from 2014 to 2022, was extradited to the U.S. in 2022 and subsequently sentenced to 45 years in prison for aiding in the smuggling of approximately 400 tons of cocaine. However, Trump pardoned him in late November. In Honduras, the 57-year-old faces charges of fraud and money laundering related to the alleged embezzlement of $2 million, which prosecutors claim funded his 2014 election campaign. Hernández denies all charges, asserting he is a victim of political persecution. A judge previously lifted an international arrest warrant against him after he agreed to appear voluntarily in court. "The last thing I want to do is bow my head when the truth is on my side," Hernández stated on Sunday. While he previously indicated no political ambitions upon his return, he did not rule out a political comeback if "radicalism" returns to Honduras, a remark seen as a reference to the current left-leaning government.

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I reviewed the case – my team and I reviewed it in detail – and a huge injustice has been committed here. It's a witch hunt, it's the use of the justice system as a political weapon.