Pardoned By Trump, Ex-president Hernández Returns To Honduras To Face Corruption Charges

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Seven months aft his merchandise from U.S. situation aft President Trump granted a pardon for his cocaine-trafficking conviction, erstwhile Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández arrived successful his state Sunday to look corruption charges.

Hernández, erstwhile considered an state by nan U.S. successful nan supplier war, led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, during which he boasted that he would “shove nan narcotics correct up nan noses of nan gringos,” according to U.S. prosecutors.

His extradition to nan U.S. 4 years agone for his drug-trafficking proceedings soon aft leaving agency marked a uncommon chance astatine justness for Hondurans, who feared his clasp connected nan country’s justness strategy would ne'er let a condemnation connected Honduran soil.

But nan erstwhile leader, sentenced to 45 years successful situation successful nan United States, was released successful December, to nan daze of galore successful nan U.S. and Honduras, aft receiving a statesmanlike pardon from Trump.

Trump was broadly criticized for issuing nan pardon — soon earlier nan U.S. penetration of Venezuela to seizure President Nicolás Maduro to look drug-trafficking charges successful nan United States, and astatine a clip nan U.S. subject has carried retired a bid of deadly attacks connected boats it alleges were transporting drugs. He defended nan pardon by asserting that Hernández did not person a adjacent proceedings and that it was a setup orchestrated by nan Biden administration.

Hernández returns to Honduras to look corruption charges amid concerns that a anemic justness strategy and his party’s return to nan presidency will guarantee his impunity.

“There is simply a societal mostly that is outraged but doesn’t speak retired because of fear,” said Joaquín Mejía, lawyer and interrogator for nan quality authorities statement Reflection, Research and Communication Team. “We’re talking astir nan leader of each supplier bosses.”

Some successful nan state welcomed his return. Hernández was greeted astatine Palmerola International Airport by his mother, wife, kids and granddaughter arsenic good arsenic dozens of supporters of his National Party.

“The infinitesimal has arrived. After 4 years, I tin yet show you that we will spot each different again,” Hernández said successful a video posted connected societal media earlier his arrival.

Hernández, 57, faces charges related to a lawsuit known arsenic Pandora I, which alleges that a web of erstwhile high-ranking officials from 2010 to 2013 participated successful nan description and support of nationalist costs disbursements totaling much than $10.8 cardinal to various foundations, according to an investigation by nan country’s Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit Against Corruption Networks, aliases UFERCO.

According to UFERCO, Hernández benefited from these disbursements, receiving astatine slightest $2.3 cardinal for his governmental run done various schemes, including nan creation of ammunition companies, nan usage of straw men and fictitious contracts.

Hernández has said he is guiltless and that nan lawsuit “lacks immoderate ineligible basis.”

In June, a judge suspended his apprehension warrant and nan world reddish announcement issued to Interpol astatine nan petition of Hernández’s lawyer, though nan lawsuit is still pending. The erstwhile president has agreed to look earlier nan judge connected Aug. 3 for his arraignment.

Other high-level officials implicated successful Pandora I whose cases person been dismissed bespeak nan apt result for Hernández, according to ineligible experts.

“Everything points to nan suspension being nan first step,” Mejía said. “He’ll come, they’ll apt rumor him replacement measures to imprisonment to support up appearances, and past he’ll extremity up without immoderate problem, without immoderate sanction.”

For Luis Javier Santos, nan erstwhile caput of UFERCO who investigated nan lawsuit against Hernández, nan erstwhile leader’s return represents a nonaccomplishment to prosecute him for his crimes alternatively than a chance for justice.

Santos was removed from his domiciled successful UFERCO successful February successful what he believes demonstrated attempts to stifle anti-corruption investigations by nan caller authorities of Nasry Asfura, of Hernández’s National Party, which took agency successful January aft gaining Trump’s backing during elections.

“We person gone backward to an moreover worse constituent than erstwhile each nan activity to conflict corruption began,” Santos said.

González and Brigida constitute for nan Associated Press. Brigida reported from Mexico City.