Senators Introduce Bill to Impose Honduran Sanctions, Export Restrictions

Democratic senators introduced a bill that would impose sanctions on the Honduran president and suspend certain export licenses for controlled defense shipments to Honduras. Under the bill, introduced Feb. 23, the U.S. would designate Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez for “significant corruption” and human rights abuses, the lawmakers said. It would also block the U.S. from issuing export licenses for shipments of controlled defense items, services and munitions to Honduran police or military forces.

The bill comes as U.S. federal prosecutors investigate Hernandez for accepting bribes from drug traffickers, who delivered thousands of kilos throughout the U.S. “A failure to hold Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, national officials, and members of the police and military accountable for these crimes will fuel widespread poverty and violence and force more families to flee their communities in search of safety,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who helped introduce the bill. “We need a comprehensive plan of action, including sanctions, and halting the provision of U.S. security assistance and defense equipment to the Honduran police and military.” Other senators backing the bill are Pat Leahy, D-Vt.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Ed Markey, D-Mass.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.