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Trial Set for June 2027
A U.S. federal judge set the trial date for deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores for June 1, 2027 in New York, after a Wednesday hearing in Manhattan.
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Judge Alvin Hellerstein scheduled the start of the proceedings for June 1, 2027, and the case centers on federal prosecutors’ accusations that Maduro and Flores conspired with drug cartels, including charges that include “narco-terrorism.”
Maduro, who was captured by the United States in Caracas earlier this year and has been imprisoned since January 3 in a Brooklyn prison, pleaded not guilty and greeted the courtroom during the brief appearance.
Defense attorney Barry Pollack said he would challenge the government’s indictment on sovereign immunity grounds, and ABC News reported that Maduro entered the courtroom without shackles and greeted spectators with “good morning” in English.
Defense, Prosecutors, and Quotes
During the Wednesday hearing, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump justified the January 2026 raid on Caracas as a “surgical law enforcement operation,” while Al Jazeera reported that Maduro and Flores denied the basic legitimacy of the trial and did not speak during the 15-minute court hearing.
Maduro’s defense framed the case as an attempt to prosecute a sovereign leader, with ABC News reporting that defense attorney Barry Pollack signaled Wednesday that he would challenge the indictment based on an argument that Maduro is immune from prosecution because he was the leader of a sovereign nation.
In his January arraignment, Maduro told the court, “I am innocent,” and ABC News added that he said, “I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country.”
Al Jazeera also reported that Maduro’s lawyer said on Wednesday that he expects to challenge the legality of the military raid to capture Maduro and bring him to the U.S. for trial, and that sovereign immunity—if successful—would mean Maduro no longer has to litigate the case.
What’s at Stake Next
The schedule set by the judge includes a November 17 hearing to address defense motions, and Euronews reported that the defense plans to file initial motions on September 2 and to seek dismissal on sovereign immunity grounds while questioning the legality of the capture.
Euronews said the court approved the calendar proposed jointly by the U.S. prosecution and the defense, and it reported that the prosecution did not oppose resolving those issues during the pre-trial phase.
If the case proceeds, the charges described in the reporting include the possibility that Maduro and Flores could be sentenced to life in prison, with DW stating that “If found guilty, Maduro and Flores face potential life prison sentences.”
Outside the courthouse, the reporting also described protests against U.S. intervention and for Maduro’s release, while the case continues with Maduro and Flores detained in a federal prison in Brooklyn as the trial date approaches.
