Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández took the stand this Tuesday as a witness in his own defense in the trial against him in the United States on drug trafficking charges, and stated that he sought to combat drug trafficking and organized crime while he held public office.
Under questioning by his lawyer Raymond Colón, Hernández said he promoted laws to “strengthen public security institutions” when he presided over the Honduran Congress from 2010 to 2014, before becoming president.
“That included the reform of the Constitution to allow the extradition of Hondurans who had to do with drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime,” Hernández said through a Spanish interpreter.
Prosecutors will have the opportunity to question Hernandez, who has pleaded not guilty.
During Hernández’s presidency from 2014 to 2022, Honduras received more than $50 million in counternarcotics aid from the United States and tens of millions of dollars in military and security aid.
Hernández also gained support from former US President Donald Trump to crack down on drugs and migration, and maintained a tough public stance on drugs and cooperated with the United States.
But federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Hernandez, 55, was actually working with traffickers who paid him millions of dollars in bribes to help ship tons of cocaine into the United States.
The trial began two weeks ago. Jurors have heard testimony from several convicted drug traffickers about bribes paid to Hernández.
Hernandez’s lawyers have blamed prosecutors for their alleged reliance on testimony from convicted criminals seeking revenge for Hernandez’s anti-drug policies and hoping to reduce their own prison sentences.
Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years and up to life in prison if convicted on all charges.
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