Rep. Norma Torres Proposes Ban on Special Treatment for Convicted Drug Traffickers — ProPublica
ProPublica — 2026-06-11 04:00:00 — www.propublica.org
Donald Trump’s Pardon of Honduran Ex-President Sparks Outcry Over “Red Carpet” Treatment
President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández in December has triggered a wave of criticism and legislative action, following reports that Hernández received what lawmakers and prison staff described as “red carpet” treatment upon his release from federal prison.
Hernández, convicted in early 2024 for taking bribes and enabling drug traffickers to export over 400 tons of cocaine to the United States, was serving a 45-year sentence before Trump granted him a full pardon. On the day of his release, Hernández had an active immigration detainer—a formal request for law enforcement to hold noncitizens for pickup by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Instead of holding him, the Federal Bureau of Prisons reportedly scrambled to remove the detainer, allowing Hernández to walk free. Prison officials then paid a four-man tactical team overtime to drive him six hours from a high-security facility in West Virginia to the luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan.
This extraordinary treatment, revealed by ProPublica, prompted Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) to introduce an amendment barring the Bureau of Prisons and other agencies from using taxpayer dollars to provide special accommodations or transportation to convicted drug traffickers and child traffickers, even those who have been pardoned or had their sentences commuted. The amendment was voted down along party lines in the House Appropriations Committee, with all Republicans opposing it.
The timing of Trump’s pardon also raised eyebrows. He announced his intent to pardon Hernández just two days before the Honduran presidential election, a move experts said signaled support for Hernández’s right-wing National Party and potentially encouraged manipulation of the vote. After the pardon, Hernández’s lawyer filed a motion to vacate his conviction, which was granted when prosecutors did not oppose it.
Prison staff expressed outrage at the special treatment, with one retired worker saying they were “disgusted” by the agency’s actions. Torres and other lawmakers have vowed to continue pushing for reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Trump’s decision and the subsequent handling of Hernández’s release have reignited debates over the use of presidential pardons and the potential for abuse of power, especially when it comes to high-profile figures convicted of serious crimes. The controversy underscores ongoing concerns about fairness, accountability, and the use of taxpayer resources in the criminal justice system.
Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-bureau-prisons-pardons-juan-orlando-hernandez-norma-torres