The president pardoned former Honduran leader Juan Orlando Hernandez. He was convicted last year for running a massive drug trafficking conspiracy. The pardon followed a flattering letter from Hernandez, delivered by advisor Roger Stone, which framed his prosecution as political persecution akin to the president's legal troubles.
Hernandez was released from a West Virginia federal prison. His letter praised the president's resilience and claimed his case was built on unreliable witness testimony. The pardon contradicts the administration's stated focus on combating drug trafficking, particularly targeting Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro.
This action aligns with the president's pattern of granting clemency to allies. He has issued over two thousand pardons, many for January sixth defendants. The White House declined to discuss the process on the record.
Hernandez was released from a West Virginia federal prison. His letter praised the president's resilience and claimed his case was built on unreliable witness testimony. The pardon contradicts the administration's stated focus on combating drug trafficking, particularly targeting Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro.
This action aligns with the president's pattern of granting clemency to allies. He has issued over two thousand pardons, many for January sixth defendants. The White House declined to discuss the process on the record.
