TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — A judge in Honduras on Tuesday dismissed the case against former president Juan Orlando Hernández for fraud and money laundering charges, clearing him of any pending charges in the Central American nation.
Hernández made the controversial return to his home country in July, four years after being extradited to the United States for his drug trafficking trial. The former leader, sentenced to 45 years in prison in the United States, was released in December after receiving a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump. He pledged to face justice in his country, but some lawyers questioned whether the Honduran justice system was strong enough to pursue the case.
The charges related to a case known as Pandora I, which alleged that a network of former high-ranking officials from 2010 to 2013 participated in the expansion and approval of public funds disbursements totaling more than 288 million lempiras ($10.8 million) to various foundations, according to an investigation by the country’s Specialized Prosecutor’s Unit Against Corruption Networks, or UFERCO.
According to UFERCO, Hernández benefited from these disbursements, receiving at least 62 million lempiras ($2.3 million) for his political campaign through various schemes, including the creation of shell companies, the use of straw men and fictitious contracts.
Hernández repeatedly asserted his innocence and said Tuesday that the charges lacked merit.
The ruling Tuesday was due to the fact that the evidence presented at the hearing “did not establish the defendant’s participation in the investigated events,” the Honduran Judiciary reported on its social media account.
The Honduran public prosecutor's office had requested that the judge admit the evidence and issue a formal indictment against the former president, but its request was rejected, and Hernández was granted definitive release. He was previously granted conditional release as the case advanced.
Outside court Tuesday, a large number of Hernández's supporters gathered as they had throughout his brief legal proceedings.
“Today this chapter of political persecution closes, we close the one in the United States, this one is closing,” the former president declared to the crowd as he left the hearing.
Supreme Court spokesman Carlos Silva said at a news conference that any parties involved in the proceedings who disagree with the decision can file an appeal.
Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
FILE - Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández waves after his arrival to Toncontin airport in Tagucigalpa, Honduras, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Destephen,File)
STUART, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods plans to change his not guilty plea in a DUI case stemming from a rollover crash in Florida, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
In March, Woods' Land Rover clipped a truck, rolled onto its side and the legendary golfer was arrested, officials said. Woods pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence in the case in Martin County circuit court, just north of Palm Beach County.
He is expected in court Wednesday morning for a plea conference hearing, according to a notice of the hearing posted Tuesday. No additional details about the nature of the plea change were released.
Woods' attorney, Doug Duncan, and the State Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press requesting additional information.
Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside residential road on Jupiter Island with a 30 mph (nearly 50 kph) speed limit when his Land Rover caused $5,000 in damage to the truck, according to an incident report. He managed to crawl out of the vehicle without any injuries and told a deputy that he was looking down at his phone and changing the radio station when he hit the truck.
Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but refused a urine test, authorities said. A sheriff’s office report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket, and he showed signs of impairment.
Woods has traveled outside of the United States to seek treatment at an inpatient treatment facility, according to court records.
In July, Judge Darren Steele approved an agreement in which prosecutors were allowed to review medical records related to Woods’ crash and arrest. The judge signed off on a similar agreement in May that grants prosecutors access to all prescription medication records for Woods at a Palm Beach pharmacy from the start of the year through the end of March.
Woods, 50, is among the most influential figures in golf and is as recognizable as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be broken.
But his career has been derailed by multiple back and knee surgeries, car accidents and pain pill dependence.
Woods has been involved in four crashes over the years. In 2021, he survived a crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputation. In 2009, his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, Florida.
He took a leave from the golf tour after the 2009 accident and again after the latest crash and has yet to return to tournament play.
Woods made his first public appearance since returning from treatment on June 23 when he introduced the PGA Tour’s plans to revamp its schedule for 2028. Woods remained as chairman of the tour's Future Competition Committee after his arrest. He did not take questions in that appearance.
Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.
FILE In this image taken from police body camera video released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff's Office, sheriff's deputies holds two pills from a search of golfer Tiger Woods' pants following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., Friday, March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Department via AP, File)
FILE - In this image from police body camera video released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff's Office, golfer Tiger Woods performs a field sobriety test for sheriff's deputies following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)
FILE - In this image from police body camera video released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff's Office, golfer Tiger Woods sits in an unmarked police vehicle as he speaks with law enforcement personnel following a car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)
