Juan Orlando Hernandez corruption case dismissed

A Honduran judge on Tuesday dismissed a corruption case against former president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who had been accused of embezzling $2 million in public funds to finance his 2013 presidential campaign.

Judicial spokesperson Carlos Silva told reporters that the judge dismissed the allegations on the grounds that Hernandez “did not authorize” and “did not manage” the resources. Silva said Hernandez “did not see any increase in his assets” and would receive his release papers later Tuesday.

Hernandez, 57, known as JOH, governed Honduras from 2014 to 2022. He has denied all charges.

The dismissal followed Hernandez's return to Honduras, nearly eight months after US President Donald Trump overturned his 45-year US prison sentence on drug trafficking charges. A judge had ruled in early August that Hernandez could remain free while on trial.

Trump pardoned Hernandez in November, days before a Honduran presidential election. Hernandez's political ally Nasry Asfura narrowly won the presidency amid opposition allegations of fraud.

“Today this chapter of political persecution comes to an end,” Hernandez told reporters outside the court in Tegucigalpa. “We closed it in the United States, and we're closing this one.”