Former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, was released from a US prison, shortly after he received a US presidential pardon from Donald Trump. His wife confirmed the release on Tuesday.

Hernandez had been serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and firearms charges in a high-security federal prison in Hazelton, West Virginia. 

Former Honduran first lady confirms release

Hernandez's wife, Ana Garcia, thanked President Trump for the pardon that freed him.

"After nearly four years of pain, waiting, and difficult trials, my husband Juan Orlando Hernandez RETURNED to being a free man, thanks to the presidential pardon granted by President Donald Trump," Garcia said.

The former Honduran president was found guilty of taking bribes from drug traffickers to enable the movement of some 400 tons of cocaine to the US through Honduras.

It took place as Hernandez portrayed himself as an ally to US authorities in the fight against drug trafficking.

Trump’s pardon of Hernandez drew criticism, coming at a time when his administration has vowed to intensify efforts against drug trafficking in the region, while threatening Venezuela and accusing President Nicolás Maduro of running a narcotrafficking cartel.

"Trump is illegally blowing up boats in the Caribbean  — supposedly to stop drugs coming into the US. Yet he pardons the former president of Honduras who was convicted of sending cocaine to the US," Democratic Senator Ed Markey posted on X. 

Trump blames Biden for 'set up'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday said Hernandez was the victim of prosecutorial overreach under former president Joe Biden.

"He was opposed to the values of the previous administration and they charged him because he was president of Honduras," Leavitt said.

Hernandez was arrested while Joe Biden was president in February 2022, just weeks after handing over power to current President Xiomara Castro. US federal authorities requested his arrest.

Trump echoed Leavitt's comments on the pardon while speaking to reporters on Air Force One.

"The people of Honduras really thought he was set up, and it was a terrible thing," Trump said.

"They basically said he was a drug dealer because he was the president of the country. And they said it was a Biden administration set-up. And I looked at the facts and I agreed with them," the president said, without elaborating.

Hernandez' pardon also comes as counting of the results in the Honduras presidential election takes place. 

The Trump administration has thrown its weight behind candidate Nasry Asfura against Salvador Nasralla. Both conservative candidates are still locked in a virtual tie, with Asfura ahead by just hundreds of votes.

Hernandez is a fellow member of Asfura's National Party.

Edited by: Kieran Burke