Trump pardon push for Hernández: letter to Trump and Stone lobbying emerge
President Trump announced he would grant a "full and complete pardon" to former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who is imprisoned at U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton and appealing a 45‑year conviction for conspiring to import large quantities of cocaine; Hernández sent Trump a four‑page letter calling the prosecution political and attorney Renato C. Stabile thanked Trump. The pledge came amid Trump’s late endorsement of National Party candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura in a razor‑thin Honduran election, and followed public lobbying by Roger Stone — who published Substack posts and said he directly urged Trump to act.
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump publicly pledged a “full and complete pardon” for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, posted on Truth Social saying Hernández was “treated very harshly and unfairly” and telling reporters the case “was a Biden setup.”
- Roger Stone publicly urged a pardon in multiple Substack posts and says he directly lobbied Trump; minutes after Trump endorsed National Party candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura, Trump posted that he would pardon Hernández.
- Hernández was convicted in the U.S., sentenced to 45 years for conspiring to import more than 400 tons of cocaine, is currently imprisoned at U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia, and is actively appealing his conviction.
- Hernández sent Trump a four‑page letter addressing him as “Your Excellency,” praising his resilience and alleging the Biden Department of Justice pursued a political agenda and that he had ineffective counsel; Axios notes the involvement of former AUSA Emile Bove in the cases, which complicates a pure political‑persecution narrative.
- Hernández’s attorney Renato C. Stabile thanked Trump and called the pardon a correction of an injustice; co‑counsel Sabrina Shroff declined to comment.
- Trump’s late endorsement of Nasry “Tito” Asfura and promise to pardon Hernández overshadowed Honduras’s presidential vote — Trump attacked rivals Rixi Moncada and Salvador Nasralla (calling them “communist” or “borderline communist”) and tied U.S. support to an Asfura win.
- The Honduran race was extremely close as voters went to the polls Nov. 30: with about 57.3% of ballots counted Asfura led Nasralla by roughly 515 votes (39.91% to 39.89%) and Rixi Moncada had about 19.86%; reporting noted long lines at polling sites and that security and jobs remain top voter concerns.
📊 Relevant Data
The homicide rate in Honduras decreased from 74.6 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2013 to 38.1 per 100,000 in 2018 during Juan Orlando Hernandez's presidency.
Honduras Murder/Homicide Rate | Historical Chart & Data — Macrotrends
Indigenous Peoples in Honduras experience disproportionately high levels of poverty, with an estimated 80 per cent living in poverty.
A/HRC/60/25/Add.1 - General Assembly — United Nations
Cocaine trafficking is estimated to have been responsible for 30% of the destruction of Central American forests, impacting indigenous communities in Honduras through deforestation and land grabs.
Here is how narcos are destroying Honduras' forests — Resoil Foundation
📰 Sources (6)
Scoop: The letter behind Trump's pardon of Honduras' ex-president for drug trafficking
New information:
- Hernández sent Trump a four-page letter addressing him as "Your Excellency," praising his resilience and alleging the Biden DOJ pursued a political agenda in his case.
- Roger Stone published multiple Substack posts urging a pardon and says he directly lobbied Trump on Friday; minutes after Trump endorsed Asfura, he posted that he’d pardon Hernández.
- Trump told reporters the Hernández case "was a Biden setup."
- Axios details letter claims of ineffective counsel; context notes former AUSA Emile Bove (now a Trump-appointed judge) previously worked the Hernández cases, undercutting a pure political-persecution narrative.
Why Trump vows to pardon a Honduran drug trafficker, but threatens war elsewhere
New information:
- With 57.3% of ballots counted, Nasry Asfura leads with 39.91% vs. Salvador Nasralla’s 39.89%, a 515‑vote margin; Rixi Moncada has 19.86%.
- Trump posted after official campaigning ended, labeling Moncada a “communist,” Nasralla “borderline communist,” and calling Asfura “the only real friend of Freedom in Honduras.”
- Local analyst attribution that Trump’s endorsement improved Asfura’s standing, noting he had trailed Nasralla in polls before the endorsement.
Hondurans vote in close presidential race overshadowed by surprise Trump intervention
New information:
- Honduran presidential voting began Sunday, Nov. 30, with lines forming at Tegucigalpa polling sites; one site opened about 30 minutes late.
- AP identifies the three leading contenders: Rixi Moncada (LIBRE), Salvador Nasralla (Liberal Party), and Nasry “Tito” Asfura (National Party).
- The article emphasizes Trump’s late‑stage endorsement of Asfura and pledge to pardon ex‑President Juan Orlando Hernández overshadowed the race; impact on results remains unclear.
- Context on voter priorities: security and jobs remain top issues, homicide rates have declined regionally but Honduras remains highest in Central America; economy strengthened under Castro.
- On‑the‑ground color and reaction including a deported Honduran’s criticism of Trump’s policies.
Trump plans 'full and complete pardon' for former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking
New information:
- Trump’s explicit wording that he will grant a 'Full and Complete Pardon' to Juan Orlando Hernández.
- Trump links the pardon rhetorically to Nasry 'Tito' Asfura’s prospective victory and says the U.S. would be 'very supportive' if Asfura wins.
- Direct Truth Social quotes in which Trump calls Hernández 'treated very harshly and unfairly.'
- Trump sharply criticizes rivals Rixi Moncada and Salvador Nasralla, labeling Nasralla a 'borderline Communist' and accusing him of splitting Asfura’s vote.
- Context that Hondurans vote Sunday and polls show Asfura virtually tied with Moncada and Nasralla (via Reuters).
- Restated conviction specifics: Hernández was sentenced to 45 years for conspiring to import over 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.
Trump plans to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez
New information:
- NPR/AP specify Hernández is currently imprisoned at U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia.
- Hernández is actively appealing his conviction.
- Attorney Renato C. Stabile issued a statement thanking Trump and calling the outcome a correction of an injustice; co-counsel Sabrina Shroff declined comment.
- Additional political context in Honduras: details on candidate Nasry 'Tito' Asfura’s background and prior embezzlement allegations he denies, plus mention of other contenders Rixi Moncada and Salvador Nasralla.