An account has been set up to raise funds for JOH’s defense in the US

Ana García, the former first lady of Honduras, condemned on Wednesday the account that was opened to collect funds for the defense of ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández (2014-2022), who is facing trial in the United States for drug trafficking. , has been cancelled.

“People who don’t want to know the truth started a campaign to stop collecting funds through the Go Fund Me page to pay for the defense of @JuanOrlandoH,” Garcia wrote on Social Network X (formerly Twitter).

He added that the “hate campaign” against Hernández “does not stop” and that he “continues to be persecuted for the actions he has promoted against organized crime and in favor of Honduran families.”

“It is a very sad day for our family, but we also feel outraged,” stressed the wife of the former president, who has been held in New York since April 2022, when he was extradited to the United States, which charges him. Drug trafficking.

“We all have the right to protection, it’s a human right” and he thanked “all those who supported us and those who continue to support us. They will not stop us, the truth will come out!” Juan Orlando is innocent, he will be back soon. will come,” he said.

On the 14th, Garcia asked for help hiring an “additional defense team” on her husband’s behalf.

“For those of you watching me today, I’m asking for your help: We need to hire an additional defense team to support Juan Orlando and lawyer (Raymond) Colon. For this reason, as a family we have opened a Go Fund Me Page (https://gofund.me/3a11f9c3) to seek your donations and support this cause for justice and truth,” said Garcia.

Last week, Judge Kevin Castel denied a request by Hernandez and his lawyer Colon to postpone the trial date in New York, set for February 5, against the former Honduran president, citing health reasons.

Garcia pointed out that “Judge Castel did not authorize the extension of the start of the trial (from 30 to 45 days) or the assignment of a public defense attorney to assist @JuanOrlandoH.”

According to reports in Tegucigalpa, Hernandez’s family hopes to raise around $300,000 for the former president’s defense, but as of Tuesday they had only raised around $26,000.

Hernandez was extradited to the United States on April 22, 2022, where he faces trial for the three crimes he is accused of: conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to possess machine guns and heavy weapons, and alleged weapons, for which he could is Life imprisonment if convicted.

On May 10, 2022, the former president pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York to the crimes with which the United States government charged him.

“Not guilty, your honor,” Hernandez responded to Judge Kevin Castel’s question about how he pleaded to the charges against him. efe