New York, United States. A federal judge set a June 1, 2027, trial date for ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on U.S. drug trafficking charges. Maduro’s lawyer said the defense would seek dismissal on the grounds that he is immune from prosecution as the head of a sovereign state.
Court schedule
Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, appeared in beige prison clothing during a hearing lasting about 20 minutes before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court.
Hellerstein also set a September 2 deadline for Maduro’s first round of motions seeking dismissal of the case and scheduled arguments on those motions for November 17.
Defense lawyer Barry Pollack told the judge he would seek dismissal based on immunity. Prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office and Maduro’s lawyers had both proposed a June 2027 trial start in a court filing Tuesday night.
“The parties all agree that this is a realistic schedule. We don’t think it’s going to slip, but obviously if anything comes up we will inform your honor,” Pollack told the judge.
It was not immediately clear how long the trial was expected to last.
Charges and capture
Maduro faces four felony counts, including narcoterrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. He could face life in prison if convicted.
U.S. commandos captured Maduro and Flores at their heavily guarded home in Caracas during a January 3 nighttime military raid ordered by President Donald Trump. They were brought to New York after previously being indicted on allegations that they used leadership positions in Venezuela to facilitate cocaine shipments.
Maduro, who led Venezuela from 2013 until his capture, described himself as a “prisoner of war” during his first court appearance on January 5. He waved toward an unidentified person in the courtroom gallery as U.S. marshals led him from the courtroom after Wednesday’s hearing.