Honduras ​orders arrest of ex-president Hernandez after Trump pardon

The Honduran government has issued an international arrest warrant for former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, days after he was released from a United States prison.

On Monday, Attorney General Johel Antonio Zelaya urged the Agencia Técnica de Investigación Criminal, the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigative body, and Interpol to execute the warrant.

The top prosecutor said the action, which coincides with this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, relates to Hernandez’s trial over alleged money laundering and fraud in the Pandora II case.

In 2023, the ex-president and former officials were charged with involvement in the alleged misappropriation of millions of dollars in state funds for his political campaign.

Zelaya also announced the arrest of María Villanueva Sánchez for irregularities committed during her tenure as head of DINAF, the government agency responsible for the protection of children and families.

President Donald Trump pardoned the 57-year-old Hernandez last week, noting that the former leader was “treated very harshly and unfairly” by the Joe Biden administration.

Reacting, Hernandez expressed “profound gratitude” to Trump for having “the courage to defend justice” and fulfilling his promise to stop the use of state power to pursue political opponents.

After leaving office in 2022, Hernandez was extradited to the U.S., where New York prosecutors accused him of drug and weapons offences, and allegedly transforming Honduras into a “narco-state”.

Hernandez was convicted for allegedly playing a major role in moving cocaine through his country to America and sentenced to 45 years in federal prison. He also received an $8 million fine.