New details are emerging about President Trump’s decision to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was released from prison on earlier this week.
Hernández was sentenced last year to 45 years in prison for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States.
In October, Hernández wrote a four-page letter to Trump seeking a pardon, claiming he had been unfairly targeted by the Biden administration. The letter was delivered by longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone.
Some Republican lawmakers have openly criticized Trump’s decision. Republican Thom Tillis said: “It’s a horrible message. … It’s confusing to say, on the one hand, we should potentially even consider invading Venezuela for a drug trafficker, and on the other hand, let somebody go.”
It is unclear if Hernández will attempt to stay in the United States or return to Honduras.
On Tuesday, some Hondurans in the capital Tegucigalpa criticized Trump for freeing Hernández and for meddling in Sunday’s election.
Jorge Meza: “I am against everything that is happening, because it’s an insult to Honduras, because Honduras really doesn’t deserve this. That’s because of a political aversion. They come and do this to our country, with all the damage Juan Orlando caused here in Honduras. So, all of us as Hondurans feel mocked, because another country comes to interfere in what we should be doing here in our own country.”
This all comes as Honduras continues to count votes from Sunday’s presidential election. The center-right Salvador Nasralla has taken a slim lead over reactionary Nasry Asfura, who had been backed by Trump.
On social media, Trump has claimed without evidence that Honduran election officials are trying to change the results of the race.
[ SOURCE: DEMOCRACY NOW ]
