Trump's Pardon Plan Sparks Honduras Election Controversy

Former US President Donald Trump has announced that he will pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who was convicted of drug trafficking charges in a US court. Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the US and possessing machine guns. Trump criticized the trial, saying Hernández was 'treated very harshly and unfairly.' Trump also endorsed Nasry 'Tito' Asfura, a conservative presidential candidate in Honduras' general election, and criticized other candidates, including Rixi Moncada and Salvador Nasralla. The Honduran election is seen as a toss-up between the three candidates. Hernández's conviction and Trump's pardon announcement have sparked controversy, with some accusing Trump of 'interventionist' meddling in Honduras' affairs.

Hondurans are set to elect a new president on Sunday, with three candidates - Rixi Moncada, Salvador Nasralla, and Nasry 'Tito' Asfura - in a tight contest. The election has been shaken by former US President Donald Trump's sudden intervention, including his endorsement of Asfura and announcement that he would pardon ex-President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence for helping drug traffickers. The US government's renewed assertiveness in Latin America has caused unease among Hondurans, who are also voting for a new Congress and hundreds of mayors and city council members. The candidates have focused on issues such as security, jobs, and corruption, with Nasralla casting himself as an outsider who can clean up the country's endemic corruption. The election is seen as a key test of the US government's willingness to directly involve itself in the region.

The article discusses the conviction of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández for drug trafficking and weapons charges, and his subsequent sentencing to 45 years in prison. It also reveals that President Trump plans to pardon Hernández, despite evidence of his involvement in a vast trafficking conspiracy that brought over 500 tons of cocaine into the United States. The article provides a detailed account of Hernández's rise to power, his connections to cartels, and his use of state power to protect traffickers. It also highlights the impact of his actions on Honduras and the United States.