Honduran court drops case against ex-President Hernandez after Trump pardon

September 2, 2026 at 07:34 AM2 min

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A Honduran court dropped fraud and money laundering charges against former President Juan Orlando Hernandez on Tuesday. Judiciary spokesperson Carlos Silva said Hernandez was not responsible for budgetary decisions during the 2010-2013 corruption scheme. Hernandez called the decision an end to political persecution.

Key Facts

The Honduran court dropped charges against Juan Orlando Hernandez on Tuesday, according to judiciary spokesperson Carlos Silva.
Hernandez was accused of fraud and money laundering related to a corruption scheme from 2010 to 2013, before his presidency.
Hernandez was convicted in the US in 2024 and sentenced to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking.
Hernandez returned to Honduras in July after being pardoned by US President Donald Trump.

Court Decision

Judiciary spokesperson Carlos Silva told reporters on Tuesday that Hernandez was not responsible for budgetary decisions at the time of the crimes. The court dropped charges of fraud and money laundering against Hernandez. Hernandez, a prominent politician in the right-wing National Party, celebrated the decision as a vindication. "This chapter of political persecution has now ended," Hernandez said after the decision.

Hernandez's Legal History

Hernandez served as president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022. US prosecutors accused him of using his position to help drug traffickers smuggle narcotics while collecting bribes. The US Department of Justice called him the "center of one of the largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies in the world". Honduran officials extradited Hernandez to the US in April 2022, and he was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Pardon and Return

Hernandez returned to Honduras in July after being pardoned in the United States for his drug-trafficking conviction. US President Donald Trump sought to advance the interests of fellow right-wing leaders across Latin America after returning to office in 2025. Honduras held general elections to select a new president and members of Congress in November 2025.