Honduran court drops case against ex-President Hernandez after Trump pardon | Courts News
A court in Honduras has officially dismissed corruption charges against former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who returned to the country in July after receiving a pardon in the United States for drug-trafficking offenses.
Hernández faced allegations of fraud and money laundering related to a corruption scheme that occurred between 2010 and 2013, prior to his presidency. Carlos Silva, a spokesperson for the judiciary, informed reporters on Tuesday that Hernández was not accountable for budgetary decisions during the period in question. Following the court’s decision, Hernández, a prominent member of the right-wing National Party, declared it a vindication, stating, “This chapter of political persecution has now ended.” He emphasized that he believed the charges were politically motivated.
Throughout his political career, Hernández, who served as president from 2014 to 2022, has come under intense scrutiny. Despite being considered an ally in the U.S.-backed “war on drugs,” U.S. prosecutors accused him of abusing his authority to aid drug traffickers while accepting bribes. The U.S. Department of Justice described him as central to one of the most substantial and violent drug-trafficking conspiracies globally.
In April 2022, following the conclusion of his presidency, Hernández was extradited to the U.S., where he was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to 45 years in prison. His conviction was celebrated by many in Honduras as an example of accountability for high-ranking officials. Protests occurred outside the New York court where he was sentenced, with demonstrators displaying Honduran flags.
In late 2025, as Honduras prepared for general elections, former President Donald Trump, who had returned to office, pledged to pardon Hernández right before the voting. The electoral race narrowed down to two right-wing candidates: Salvador Nasralla and Nasry Asfura, a member of Hernández’s National Party. On December 2, amid the ongoing vote count, Trump fulfilled his promise and pardoned Hernández, claiming he had been treated “very harshly and unfairly” under the previous administration.
Although Hernández received a pardon in the U.S., he continued to face legal challenges in Honduras, specifically in connection to the Pandora corruption scandal. This case involved accusations that government officials, including Hernández, misappropriated public funds for political campaigns, diverting approximately $10.8 million between 2010 and 2013, with Hernández allegedly receiving around $2.3 million.
Following his pardon, a domestic arrest warrant regarding the Pandora case was suspended, allowing Hernández to return to Honduras. Analysts expressed concerns that Trump’s support and the National Party’s government control could compromise the integrity of any legal proceedings. However, the judiciary stated on Tuesday that the evidence against Hernández did not confirm his involvement in the alleged activities. Other politicians implicated in the Pandora scandal, including former President Porfirio Lobo and ex-Finance Minister Wilfredo Cerrato, also saw their charges dismissed.
