TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS.- The President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, hopes a judicial “second instance” in the United States can review the case of his brother, a former congressman found guilty drug trafficking by a New York court.
In an interview with AFP on Friday, the president said he was confident that the judges would see that the charges against Juan Antonio “Tony” HernándezThey respond to an act of revenge from drug cartel bosses who dismantled their government.
“Tony” was found guilty by a jury in the Southern District Court of New York on charges of drug trafficking and possession of weapons, crimes that the judge can punish with at least 40 years in prison.
SEE: “Tony” Hernández’s punishment has been postponed for the eighth time
He is also involved in the reprisals, the president says, as imprisoned drug traffickers claim they financially supported his presidential campaign in exchange for allowing them to operate.
Lawyer Hernández, in power since 2014, recalls that his government has extradited 23 capos. And that it was he who asked for support from the United States, which in turn acknowledges Honduras’ fall in drug trade by 83%.
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JOH, as he is known in his country by his initials, addresses issues of security, drug trafficking and diplomacy, which he raised during the interview and also revealed his stance on the controversy surrounding his brother:
His brother was found guilty in the United States for ties to drug lords
There are two dimensions: the dimension of brother, of relative, seeing my mother, seeing my cousins (Tony’s children), my brothers, and talking within the family is a strong thing, it is something that hits very hard.
But I am also the president of a country and … no one is above the law.
When I hear famous killers say ridiculously, the desire for revenge is clearly seen.
But they found him guilty [espera sentencia para marzo] What do you think will happen with this decision?
It will be necessary to see how the testimonies of these people are preserved once the judge realizes who they are … Like any legal process, it always has a second instance.
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