Former Honduran President Returns Home After Pardon

Juan Orlando Hernandez, who served more than four years in prison in the US for drug trafficking and arms charges, has returned to his country after being pardoned.Hernandez was greeted by his family and supporters upon his arrival at the airport in Comayagua. During his tenure as President of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, Hernandez was convicted in a New York court in June 2024 for drug trafficking and firearm offenses.US President Donald Trump announced that Hernandez would be pardoned, claiming he was a victim of a 'political conspiracy' during the previous Biden administration. Following the pardon, Hernandez was released and returned to Honduras.Meanwhile, the process regarding the 'fraud' and 'money laundering' charges against Hernandez, which were previously filed in Honduras, has been revisited. The Honduran Prosecutor's Office announced that the 2023 arrest warrant would be reinstated upon the former president's return to the country.Hernandez has denied all allegations, arguing that he was one of the US's closest allies in the fight against drugs during his presidency.