Ex-Honduran President Thanks God, Trump for Pardon

Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, has publicly expressed his gratitude following a recent pardon for a drug trafficking conviction. In a social media video, Hernández specifically thanked both God and former U.S. President Donald Trump, notably acknowledging divine intervention before crediting the political figure. This pardon overturns a conviction secured by federal U.S. prosecutors less than two years prior.

Addressing the U.S. president directly in his remarks, Hernández eventually stated, “Trump changed my life, and I’ll never forget that.” However, his initial words were reserved for a higher power. Speaking in Spanish, he proclaimed, “You saw the injustice and suffering, and in your infinite mercy you helped us.” He continued, “Thanks to you, Lord, today I’m a free man,” delivering these words as his first public statement since receiving the pardon on December 1. Hernández emphasized his unwavering belief, adding, “I never lost the faith.”

Profound Gratitude to Trump

Beyond his spiritual thanks, Hernández conveyed “profound gratitude” to Trump. He lauded the former American leader for possessing the “courage to defend justice and to fulfill his promise that never again would the immense power of the state be used to pursue political opponents.” This statement echoes a familiar refrain from Trump regarding his own legal challenges and the alleged weaponization of government agencies.

The timing of Hernández’s video and the subsequent events unfolded rapidly. Within a single day of its Friday publication, a judge issued an order blocking prosecutors from the Trump Justice Department from accessing critical materials. These materials belonged to a key associate of James Comey, the former FBI director. Comey is a known political adversary of the U.S. president, whom the White House has previously sought to criminally prosecute, alleging he misled Congress.

Allegations of Political Persecution

Hernández, who governed Honduras from 2014 to 2022, subsequently mirrored some of Trump’s frequently invoked rhetoric to contextualize his own legal predicaments. He asserted that he was the target of a “corrupt prosecution.” This, he claimed, stemmed from a conspiracy orchestrated by President Joe Biden’s administration and elements of the so-called “deep state.”

He maintained that these purported conspirators were upset with his efforts to combat organized crime within Honduras during his tenure as president. “They wanted to assassinate my morale, erase my name, and sully my legacy,” Hernández declared. He articulated their alleged motive clearly: “Their objective was clear: get me out of the way [and] eliminate the leader who defended law and order.” Reflecting on his ordeal, Hernández concluded, “If I’ve learned something, the truth can be silenced for a time – but it can’t be erased.”

Source: The Guardian