Honduras' Ex-President: Safety Concerns Keep Him Away

Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former leader of Honduras, won't be coming home right away. He's been in a U. S. prison for drug trafficking, but he got a pardon from Donald Trump. His wife, Ana Garcia, said he's staying away because it's not safe for him in Honduras. Hernandez was president from 2014 to 2022. He was arrested in 2022 and sent to the U. S. for drug and weapons trafficking. A U. S. jury found him guilty in March 2024. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison. But Trump pardoned him, and he left prison this week. Garcia said Hernandez made many decisions as president that made him unsafe. She also said many criminals testified against him. Some of them have been released from prison. She said it's not the right time for Hernandez to be in Honduras. The presidential elections in Honduras were held on Sunday. Preliminary results show a slight lead for the Liberal Party candidate, Salvador Nasralla. But the National Party's Nasry Asfura is close behind. The National Party is Hernandez's party. Garcia said they will see what the conditions are next year. She said they are sure the next government will be from the National Party. She also said they will face any criminal case against Hernandez in Honduras. She said they will not flee the country. Garcia said Hernandez is in a safe place in the U. S. She said Trump's administration has provided protection. She said Hernandez is in good health and spiritually well. She said he has very high morale. Critics say Trump's pardon for Hernandez interfered in the presidential elections. They say it tipped the scales toward the National Party candidate, Asfura. Trump urged voters to support Asfura. Garcia said Trump helped protect democracy in Honduras. The U. S. has been deeply involved in Honduras' politics for years. In the early 1980s, the Pentagon and U. S. intelligence agencies maintained close ties with Honduras' military dictatorship. They used the country as a platform to intervene in neighboring nations. In 2017, the U. S. government backed Hernandez's reelection despite massive fraud allegations.