Congresswoman Norma Torres Sends Letter to President Trump: Hernández Must Not Be Pardoned
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres sent a letter to President Trump urging him not to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison for crimes that devastated communities in Honduras, the United States, and beyond.
“Juan Orlando Hernández ran a violent, cartel-backed empire that trafficked hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States, stole taxpayer dollars, and terrorized communities across Honduras and Central America,” said Congresswoman Torres. “A pardon would erase years of work holding powerful criminals accountable, reward corruption at the highest levels, and betray every American family harmed by his crimes. He must serve his full sentence.”
Hernández’s trial and conviction marked a critical victory for international anti-corruption and anti-drug efforts, demonstrating the importance of U.S. oversight and Central American cooperation in combating transnational crime. His pardon would undermine these efforts and embolden violent networks across the region.
“Over his presidency, Hernández turned the Honduran government into a tool of violence and corruption,” Torres continued. “He deployed police and military forces to protect cocaine shipments, used death squads to intimidate opponents, and openly branded drugs with his initials while profiting from American deaths. Pardoning him would signal to the world that power and money can shield criminals from justice and that victims’ lives do not matter.”
Congresswoman Torres is calling on President Trump to stand with victims, law enforcement, and communities across the Americas, not shield criminals, and to ensure Hernández serves his full sentence.