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Biden admin reveals ex-Honduran leader on list of corrupt Central American officials

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MIAMI — The Biden administration final 12 months quietly positioned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández on a categorized record of officers suspected of corruption or undermining democracy in Central America, in keeping with the State Division, which made the designation public Monday.

The record was supplied final summer season to the U.S. Congress in compliance with laws pushed by former Congressman Eliot Engel, who chaired the Home Overseas Affairs Committee earlier than being defeated in a Democratic main in 2020.

The publication of the so-called Engel Listing fell like a bombshell in Central America, containing the names of one other former Honduran president, Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo Sosa, amongst greater than 50 energetic lawmakers, high politicians and former officers in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras — the so-called “Northern Triangle” international locations.

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However one notable omission was Hernández, who was in energy on the time however reeling from accusations that surfaced within the drug trafficking trial of his brother, ex lawmaker Antonio “Tony” Hernández, that his political ascent had been funded by bribes from drug traffickers. Tony Hernández was sentenced in New York in March to life in jail.

President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez waves as he exits the Academia Diplomatica de Chile the place he met with President-elect Sebastian Pinera, in Santiago, Saturday, March 10, 2018. (Related Press)

People on the record are usually ineligible for visas and admission to the U.S.

“The USA’ dedication to combating corruption and selling democracy, rule of legislation, and accountability in help of the individuals of Central America is ironclad,” the State Division mentioned in a press release, citing “a number of, credible media experiences” that Hernández had engaged in important acts of corruption by taking funds from drug traffickers.

With Hernández’s stepping down final month, the State Division thought of it was not crucial to take care of secrecy, two individuals acquainted with the sanction mentioned on the situation of anonymity to debate non-public deliberations.

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Strain has been constructing in Washington to go after Hernández as his successor, Xiomara Castro, seeks to enhance relations with the U.S.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the debt ceiling during an event in the State Dining Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 4 in Washington.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the debt ceiling throughout an occasion within the State Eating Room of the White Home, Monday, Oct. 4 in Washington.
(Related Press)

Sen. Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, this month known as on the Biden administration to designate Hernábdez a “important international narcotics trafficker” beneath the Overseas Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, making it unlawful for U.S. firms and people to do enterprise with him. His feedback adopted a letter despatched to Lawyer Common Merrick Garland by Rep. Norma Torres, a California Democrat who co-chairs the Central America caucus in Congress, calling for the U.S. Justice Division to indict Hernández.

“Hernández has been a central determine in undermining the rule of legislation in his personal nation and in defending and aiding drug traffickers to maneuver their supplies by means of Honduras and to the USA,” Torres mentioned on the time. “He has been repeatedly recognized as a co-conspirator in different drug trafficking circumstances and has prompted unbelievable ache to each the individuals of Honduras and the USA. I imagine it’s important that the USA maintain him accountable for his legal habits.”

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Hernández has likened prosecutors’ consideration to a witch hunt fueled by the false testimony of confessed killers who have been additionally key witnesses in his brother’s trial.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks during a news conference at the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Wednesday, March 24, 2021.  (Associated Press)

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks throughout a information convention on the Presidential Home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Wednesday, March 24, 2021.  (Related Press)

In a press release Monday, he touted his report for pursuing drug cartels, which he mentioned had the help of the Drug Enforcement Administration amongst different federal companies, and questioned why the designation was based mostly on media experiences.

He cited U.S. authorities experiences exhibiting that the move of medicine by means of Honduras fell sharply since he took energy and that beneath his rule 59 drug traffickers have been both extradited or surrendered to U.S. authorities.

“These drug traffickers and confessed assassins used to totally dominate the nation, however since my arrival to congress in 2010 and later as president since 2014 my authorities took selections and executed actions that decreased significantly the move of medicine that reached the U.S.,” he mentioned.