Hernandez Conviction in Manhattan Spatters National Party and Ruling Party Libre in Honduras

Monday, March 11, 2024
Jeff Ernst

Seated in the witness stand wearing the same suit he had worn for his inauguration to a second term as president of Honduras in 2018, Juan Orlando Hernández attempted on March 5 to make the case that he was innocent of the drug trafficking charges against him.

“The narcos don’t have a political party,” said Hernández, responding to questions about bribes paid by drug traffickers.

“They support everyone,” he said, pausing for a moment before adding, “Or at least they try.”

“Just like you, Mr. Hernández?” responded the prosecutor.

Moments later, the trial ended for the day. As Hernández waited in the stand for the jury to exit, he stared ahead blankly with a look of defeat. A lawyer before he entered politics, he appeared to know that instead of supporting his innocence, he’d confirmed the central thesis of the U.S. prosecution — that accepting drug money has been for the last 20 years, including two Hernández administrations, the way of doing politics in Honduras.

Three days later, on Friday, March 8, a New York jury found Hernández, 55, guilty of three counts of drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years, to be determined in the next few months.

More:
https://elfaro.net/en/202403/centroamerica/27276/hernandez-conviction-in-manhattan-spatters-national-party-and-ruling-party-libre-in-honduras