Trump Warns Europe: Civilizational Extinction Threat
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Donald Trump Promises Pardon, Support for Honduran Candidate in controversial Move
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Former US President Donald Trump has pledged a full pardon for ex-Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández and promised US support contingent on the election of Nasry “Tito” Asfura, a candidate linked to Hernández’s political party, raising concerns about US interference in Honduran elections.
Trump’s Announcement and Conditional support
In a series of posts on his truth Social platform on December 4, 2023, Donald Trump announced his intention to grant a full and complete pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández. Trump stated the pardon was motivated by the belief that hernández had been treated “harshly and unfairly” by individuals he deeply respected. He together linked US support for Honduras to the electoral success of Nasry “Tito” Asfura, the candidate representing the National Party, formerly led by Hernández.
trump explicitly stated that if Asfura wins the presidency, honduras can expect US support. Conversely, he indicated that Washington would withhold funding if asfura loses. This conditional pledge has sparked criticism and accusations of blatant interference in Honduras’s democratic process.
Juan Orlando Hernández: From President to Prisoner
Juan Orlando Hernández served as President of Honduras from 2014 to 2022. His presidency was marked by allegations of corruption and ties to drug trafficking. Following his departure from office,Hernández was extradited to the United States in April 2022 according to the US Department of Justice.
In March 2023,Hernández was convicted on charges of drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic narcotics. The US Department of Justice stated that Hernández abused his power as president to facilitate a large-scale drug trafficking operation, with consequences for both Honduras and the United States. He was later sentenced to 45 years in prison as reported by NBC news.
Nasry “Tito” Asfura and the Honduran Election
Nasry “Tito” Asfura, the candidate Trump has linked to potential US support, served as the mayor of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, for three consecutive terms. He ran for president on the National Party ticket in the November 26, 2023 election. Reuters reported on the 2021 election,providing background on the Honduran political landscape.
Preliminary results from the November 26th election indicate that Asfura did not win. Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE party won the election.