"Trump's Pardon Sparks Global Manhunt for Ex-Honduras President"

Honduras Seeks Arrest of Ex-President Hernández After Trump Pardon In a surprise move, Honduras' Attorney General Johel Zelaya has ordered the arrest of former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was recently pardoned by US President Donald Trump for his role in a major cocaine trafficking operation. According to NPR Politics, Zelaya has asked Interpol to execute a 2023 arrest order for Hernández, citing allegations of fraud and money laundering. The warrant was triggered by Hernández's release from US federal prison last week, where he was serving a sentence for his involvement in the cocaine trafficking operation. The move has sparked controversy, with some seeing it as a necessary step to hold Hernández accountable for his alleged crimes, while others view it as a politically motivated move. According to NPR News, the arrest warrant is not the first time Hernández has faced charges in Honduras. In 2023, a court issued a warrant for his arrest, but it was not enforced until now. The warrant alleges that Hernández embezzled millions of dollars in public funds and laundered money through various shell companies. The decision to issue the arrest warrant has been met with mixed reactions in Honduras. Some have praised the move as a necessary step to hold Hernández accountable for his alleged crimes, while others have criticized it as a politically motivated move. "This is a necessary step to ensure that justice is served," said a spokesperson for the Honduran government. "We will not tolerate corruption and impunity in our country." The controversy surrounding Hernández's pardon by Trump has also sparked debate in the US. Some have criticized the pardon as a reward for Hernández's cooperation in the US investigation into the cocaine trafficking operation, while others have argued that it was a necessary step to secure cooperation from Hernández in the investigation. According to NPR Politics, Trump's pardon of Hernández was met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and lawmakers in the US. "This pardon is a slap in the face to the Honduran people and a betrayal of the trust of the American people," said a spokesperson for a human rights group. The current status of Hernández's arrest warrant is unclear, but it is expected that he will face extradition to Honduras to face trial. The case has sparked a heated debate about corruption and impunity in Honduras and the role of the US in the country's politics. In a statement, the Honduran government said that it will continue to pursue justice for the alleged crimes committed by Hernández. "We will not rest until justice is served and those responsible for corruption and impunity are held accountable," said the spokesperson. The case is a reminder of the complex and often fraught relationship between the US and Honduras, and the challenges of combating corruption and impunity in the region. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the case will be resolved and what implications it will have for the future of Honduras and the US-Honduras relationship.