WASHINGTON – (INT) – Inland Empire Congresswoman Norma Torres has roundly criticized President Trump’s pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, the former President of Honduras.

Hernandez was convicted in a U.S. court of drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Torres (D-35th District) said Hernández used U.S. taxpayer dollars to flood the U.S. with cocaine, boasted he wanted to ‘shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos,’ and profited from the deaths of over 100,000 Americans.” In a statement issued Tuesday (December 2nd), Torres said “This pardon mocks every American and Honduran who believes in democracy, the rule of law, and justice.”

Norma Torres is understanding of Central American politics. She was born in Guatemala and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. She is the first person of Guatemalan birth to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

Story Date: December 3, 2025