Leaked audio recordings published by the Hondurasgate platform and Diario Red América Latina the week of April 30, 2026 allege a coordinated cross-border operation valued at over US$500,000 involving Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández, sitting president Nasry Asfura, and Argentine president Javier Milei to launch a media campaign against Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro.
The recordings, drawn from WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram and verified by forensic firm Phonexia Voice Inspector, were obtained by the Spanish-language Diario Red, directed by former Spanish vice-president Pablo Iglesias and based in Mexico. Argentine deputy Nicolás Trotta filed a formal Cámara resolution demanding explanations on May 5.
Key Points
— Hondurasgate published audios April 30 with Phonexia forensic verification of authenticity.
— Alleged Milei contribution: US$350,000; alleged Asfura/INSEP transfer: US$150,000.
— Stated targets: Mexican president Sheinbaum and Colombian president Petro governments.
— January 30 audio: Hernández tells VP Mejía about call with Milei and Mexican supporter.
— Argentine Deputy Trotta filed Cámara resolution May 5 demanding government explanations.
What the Audios Say
The Rio Times, the Latin American financial news outlet, reports that the most explosive audio is a January 30 phone call between Hernández and Honduran vice-president María Antonieta Mejía, in which Hernández states: “I was telling President Asfura that we were able to speak with Javier Milei, and he is supporting with US$350,000. Another great friend of ours from Mexico is also supporting, specifically on the Mexican issue, we are quite ready and waiting for this to move forward”. Mejía’s response, “President, if you wish, let us omit the details, I just wanted to confirm the amount”, is also part of the released material.
A separate audio between Hernández and Asfura describes a “cell” or media node operating from US territory, with Hernández saying they will set up the cell from the United States so they cannot be traced in Honduras and that it will function “like a Latin American news site”. A March 18 recording references political violence framing, with Hernández invoking Pablo Escobar as a reference. Diario Red and Hondurasgate also describe alleged territorial commitments to Washington including expansion of Honduras’s ZEDES (Zonas de Empleo y Desarrollo Económico), construction of a new US military base alongside the existing Soto Cano (Palmerola) operated by US Southern Command since 1982, and AI-investment legislation favoring US and Israeli companies.
The Hernández Pardon Backstory
Juan Orlando Hernández, who governed Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was sentenced to 45 years in US federal prison in June 2024 for cocaine trafficking, and President Donald Trump pardoned him in December 2025 citing what he called a case of “persecution and injustice”. In one of the leaked audios, Hernández himself attributes the pardon to “money from a council of rabbis” and Israeli supporters, citing PM Benjamin Netanyahu as having “everything to do” with his release. Trump’s pardon decree did not invoke any of these factors and the White House has not commented on the audios.
Reactions and Verification
Forensic firm Phonexia Voice Inspector confirmed the audio authenticity, ruling out artificial generation, while Diario Red and Hondurasgate’s investigation has been republished by La Jornada (Mexico), Página 12 (Argentina), Diario Popular, El Imparcial, and others across the region. The Argentine government had not formally responded by May 6, while the Trump White House did not comment, the Mexican president’s office referred to it as a matter under review, and the Honduran government did not address the substance of the allegations. The investigation is ongoing and Diario Red has signaled additional installments.
Argentine opposition deputy Nicolás Trotta filed a formal Cámara de Diputados resolution May 5 demanding explanations from the Milei government. The leak lands amid Milei‘s US tour at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles and 9 days after Argentina’s Cámara approved a critical-minerals legal framework that critics say resembles patterns described in the leaked audios. Argentine peso-bond markets did not show meaningful negative reaction by Wednesday May 6, with country risk falling to 514 basis points after Fitch upgraded Argentina to B-.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Source | Diario Red América Latina + Hondurasgate |
| Director Diario Red | Pablo Iglesias (Spain, based in Mexico) |
| Verification | Phonexia Voice Inspector forensic analysis |
| Platforms | WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram |
| Publication week | April 30 – May 6, 2026 |
| Total alleged operation | ~US$500,000+ |
| Hernández pardon | December 2025 by Trump |
| Argentine response | Trotta resolution May 5; Casa Rosada silent |
Connected Coverage
For broader context on US-Latin America political dynamics, see our coverage of the Lula-Trump White House meeting and how Brazil navigates pressure from Washington and our analysis of Milei’s Milken Conference push and the Argentine market response to the Fitch upgrade.
What Happens Next
- Through May: Diario Red and Hondurasgate are expected to publish additional audio installments.
- Friday May 8: US non-farm payrolls; market test of Argentine asset reaction to political risk.
- Mid-May: Possible Argentine Cámara debate on Trotta resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hondurasgate?
Hondurasgate is a journalism platform and the name given to a series of leaked audio recordings published the week of April 30, 2026 in partnership with Diario Red América Latina, directed by former Spanish vice-president Pablo Iglesias and based in Mexico. The leaks include WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram audios of conversations between Honduran ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández, sitting president Nasry Asfura, and vice-president María Antonieta Mejía. Forensic firm Phonexia Voice Inspector verified the authenticity of the recordings.
What does Milei have to do with it?
In a January 30, 2026 audio attributed to Hernández, the ex-president states that Argentine president Javier Milei is “supporting with US$350,000” a media operation targeting the Sheinbaum and Petro governments. The Argentine government had not formally responded by May 6, but opposition deputy Nicolás Trotta filed a Cámara resolution May 5 demanding explanations. The audios are not court evidence and would need formal investigation to establish any direct involvement by the Argentine state.
Why was Hernández pardoned?
President Donald Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández in December 2025, citing what he called “persecution and injustice” by US prosecutors. Hernández had been sentenced to 45 years in June 2024 for trafficking cocaine into the United States. In one of the leaked audios, Hernández himself attributes the pardon to “money from a council of rabbis” and Israeli supporters and cites PM Benjamin Netanyahu, but the official Trump pardon decree referenced none of these factors and the White House has not commented.
Has the Argentine market reacted?
Argentine peso-bond markets did not show meaningful negative reaction by Wednesday May 6, with country risk falling 41 points to 514 basis points after Fitch upgraded the sovereign to B- on May 5. The S&P Merval rose 4.4% to 2,881,352 points and Argentine ADRs rallied with Banco Macro up 10.4%. Markets appeared to absorb the political-risk signal without revising the macro thesis, though the picture could shift if Trotta’s resolution generates further institutional response or if additional Hondurasgate installments prove more concrete.
Updated: 2026-05-07T12:00:00Z by Rio Times Editorial Desk