Patrick Leahy: “I want to speak briefly about the recent decision by the National Jurisdiction Sentencing Court in Honduras to acquit…”

“I want to speak briefly about the recent decision by the National Jurisdiction Sentencing Court in Honduras to acquit Honduran nationals Edwin Espinal and Raul Alvarez. Both men were found to have been falsely accused of aggravated property damage, aggravated arson, and the use of homemade explosives, charges for which it turned out the government had no credible evidence. Espinal and Alvarez spent 19 months in a maximum-security prison awaiting trial. They were reportedly subjected to harsh conditions, including receiving only 2 hours of sunlight per month. Despite being accused of common crimes, special courts created to try members of organized criminal networks presided over the process, including a judge located at a military base. It took 4 years for a court to rule on their case and to finally absolve them of charges that were determined to be without merit. Espinal and Alvarez, like dozens of other protesters, were arrested during the 2017 electoral turmoil that culminated in the reelection of current President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Their case was used as a means to silence protesters and stifle discussion of the democratic process and the need for transparent elections. Edwin Espinal is a human rights defender who has faced political persecution since 2009. He is not alone.…”