Maroc - RAWSTORY.COM - Raw Story - 28/Nov 22:15

Trump vows full pardon for drug-trafficking ex-foreign president

President Donald Trump used his Truth Social account on Friday to announce that he intends to grant a “Full and Complete Pardon” to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez – a convicted drug trafficker sentenced last year to 45 years in U.S. federal prison for helping move massive quantities of cocaine into the United States. The move comes after months of lobbying from several MAGA-aligned figures, including staunch ally Roger Stone, who has publicly urged Trump to pardon the former Honduran leader and cast doubt on the fairness of the conviction.In announcing his new pardon plans Friday, Trump portrayed Hernandez, who was extradited to the U.S in 2024 and convicted after a lengthy trial, as the true victim. In his post, the president claimed Hernandez had been “treated very harshly and unfairly,” adding that the information came to him “according to many people that I greatly respect.”“This cannot be allowed to happen, especially now, after Tito Asfura wins the Election, when Honduras will be on its way to Great Political and Financial Success,” Trump wrote about the Honduran presidential candidate he endorsed in a pair of social media posts.“VOTE FOR TITO ASFURA FOR PRESIDENT, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ ON YOUR UPCOMING PARDON.”Hernandez’s conviction followed years of reporting that he used Honduras’ government, military and police to protect cocaine shipments headed to the U.S. He has consistently denied involvement in narcotrafficking.“Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump concluded Friday before adding, “MAKE HONDURAS GREAT AGAIN!”