Juan Orlando Hernández, the former Honduran president once staring down a future behind bars, has re-emerged as a free man, attributing his sudden liberty to divine intervention and the pen of Donald Trump.

The controversial pardon, granted on December 1, overturns a federal drug trafficking conviction secured less than two years ago. For observers in Nairobi and beyond, the move signals a dramatic and unpredictable pivot in Washington’s judicial stance, raising questions about the durability of international anti-corruption efforts.

Divine Intervention and Political Debts

In his first public address since the pardon, Hernández released a video on social media that blended religious fervor with political gratitude. He thanked the Almighty for delivering him from "injustice and suffering," before pivoting to the man who signed his release papers.

"Thanks to you, Lord, today I’m a free man," Hernández declared. "I never lost the faith."

He then directed his praise toward the US President, stating that Trump "changed my life, and I’ll never forget that." The former head of state lauded Trump for having the "courage to defend justice" and for fulfilling a promise to stop the state from pursuing political opponents—a narrative that resonates deeply in nations where judicial systems are often weaponized against rivals.

Echoing the 'Deep State' Narrative

Hernández’s defense has shifted from legal arguments to adopting the specific political lexicon of his benefactor. He characterized his initial prosecution not as a pursuit of justice, but as a conspiracy engineered by the administration of Joe Biden and the so-called "deep state."

The former president, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, maintained that his imprisonment was retaliation for his attempts to crack down on organized crime. This claim stands in stark contrast to the evidence presented by US federal prosecutors during his trial, which painted him as a co-conspirator in the very drug trade he claimed to fight.

"They wanted to assassinate my morale, erase my name, and sully my legacy," Hernández asserted. "Their objective was clear: get me out of the way [and] eliminate the leader who defended law and order."

A Shift in US Justice?

The pardon arrives amidst a turbulent week for the US Justice Department. Within 24 hours of Hernández’s video, a judge blocked prosecutors from accessing materials belonging to an ally of former FBI director James Comey. This sequence of events suggests a broader dismantling of previous prosecutorial priorities in Washington.

For the global south, the message is complex. While Hernández frames his release as a victory against a corrupt system, critics argue it undermines the rule of law. As the dust settles, the former president remains defiant, framing his survival as proof of his righteousness.