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Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said he will seek the dismissal of fraud and money laundering charges in Honduras after returning home on Sunday, following a U.S. presidential pardon that ended his 45-year prison sentence for cocaine trafficking convictions in the United States.
Speaking to Reuters alongside his wife, Ana Garcia, Hernandez argued that the case against him in Honduras was politically motivated. He said several other defendants tied to the same corruption investigation, known as the Pandora II case, have already had their charges dismissed and expressed hope that his case would receive similar treatment.
The former leader, who governed Honduras from 2014 to 2022, faces separate domestic charges that were not affected by the pardon granted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Hernandez said he has already requested that the Honduran arrest warrant against him be withdrawn and expects judicial proceedings to begin in early August. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Hernandez was extradited to the United States in 2022 after U.S. prosecutors accused him of helping facilitate the shipment of more than 400 metric tons of cocaine into the country while serving as president. Prosecutors alleged he accepted millions of dollars in bribes from drug traffickers and turned Honduras into a "narco-state." A Manhattan jury convicted him in 2024, but Trump later pardoned him before he had served two years of his sentence.
Legal analysts in Honduras remain divided over whether Hernandez's local charges will be dismissed, despite previous rulings that cleared former President Porfirio Lobo and former Finance Secretary Wilfredo Cerrato, who were investigated under the same Pandora II corruption case.
Hernandez also commented on Trump's backing of current Honduran President Nasry Asfura during last year's closely contested election, which drew criticism over alleged U.S. interference. He said U.S. administrations have historically influenced foreign elections, although Trump has done so more openly.
Looking ahead, Hernandez said he is focused on supporting the National Party's new leadership but did not completely rule out seeking public office again in the future. He is expected to arrive at Palmerola International Airport, about 60 kilometers northwest of Tegucigalpa, on Sunday.
