Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Wife to Face Trial in June
Trial Date and Upcoming Court Dates
A judge in New York has set the trial for June 1 at the request of both the prosecution and the defense.
Defense attorneys plan to file motions to challenge the charges in early September, and the couple will return to court on November 17 for oral arguments on those motions.
Legal Representation and Defense Strategy
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he will initially contest the case on sovereign immunity grounds, arguing that the former president’s status could bar the prosecution.
The defense also intends to challenge the legality of the “military kidnapping” that removed Maduro and his wife from their home in January.
Background of the Abduction
Former president Nicolás Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores, 69, have been held in a Brooklyn prison since U.S. forces conducted a nighttime raid on their Caracas residence in early January and transferred them to New York for prosecution.
Both have entered not‑guilty pleas and have not requested bail.
Charges and Potential Penalties
Prosecutors allege that Maduro led a conspiracy to transport thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States by working with Venezuelan law enforcement and drug lords.
A conviction could result in a life sentence for each defendant.
Trump Administration’s Position
The Trump administration described the raid as a “surgical law enforcement operation” in a criminal case that began six years ago, while Maduro has called his capture a kidnapping and a war‑prisoner situation.
