Narco testifies he gave $100k to Honduran candidates in 2009

NEW YORK (AP) — A Honduran drug trafficker is giving more details about campaign contributions he says he gave to the current and former presidents of the Central American nation — money he says was channeled through the brother of now-President Juan Orlando Hernández.

Víctor Hugo Díaz Morales testified Friday that he gave co-defendant Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernández $100,000 in 2009 for a congressional race by the suspect’s brother as well as the campaign of eventual President Porfirio Lobo.

Díaz says Tony Hernández assured him the political connections could help them move cocaine through Honduras without government interference.

Prosecutors have said Juan Orlando Hernández received at least $1.5 million from traffickers for his 2013 presidential campaign. Hernández denies those allegations and hasn’t been charged. Lobo has also denied allegations linking him to drug traffickers.