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Trial Date Set
A U.S. federal judge in New York set a trial date for ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on June 1, 2027, after a Wednesday hearing before Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
The case centers on federal prosecutors’ accusations that Maduro and Flores conspired with drug cartels to facilitate the flow of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S., while both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Maduro, wearing beige jail garb, entered the courtroom without shackles and greeted spectators with "good morning" in English, then waved at one of the sketch artists as he took his seat at the defense table.
Judge Hellerstein granted Maduro a few minutes to huddle with his lawyers after the hearing concluded, and the approved schedule set next steps including oral arguments on motions on Nov. 17.
Maduro’s defense attorney Barry Pollack said Wednesday he would first challenge the indictment on sovereign immunity grounds, arguing Maduro is immune from prosecution because he was the leader of a sovereign nation.
Courtroom Objections
During the 15-minute hearing, Maduro and Flores did not speak, and the BBC reported that the trial date was set as their lawyers continued to object to the U.S. military action that snatched them from power.
Maduro’s lawyer Barry Pollack told the court he expects to challenge the legality of the military raid to capture Maduro and bring him to the U.S. for trial, and he said he would first challenge the indictment on sovereign immunity grounds.
Maduro told the court during his arraignment in January, "I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country," and he has called his capture a kidnapping while U.S. prosecutors say he carried out a conspiracy to move thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S.
The Trump administration defended the raid as a "surgical law enforcement operation" in a criminal case first brought six years ago, and the BBC described demonstrators gathering outside the courthouse on Wednesday.
Under the approved schedule, defense lawyers will begin filing requests in early September to challenge the indictment and the couple will return to the courtroom Nov. 17 for oral arguments on the motions.
What’s at Risk
If convicted, Maduro could face life in prison, and the BBC said the charges include conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
The Al Jazeera account said Maduro faces four counts, including "narco-terrorism" conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy, and it noted that he and Flores deny the basic legitimacy of the trial.
The defense strategy highlighted in multiple reports is sovereign immunity, with Pollack saying he expects to challenge the indictment on grounds that Maduro is the head of state of a sovereign country.
The case is also tied to the U.S. military raid in January 2026, which Al Jazeera said Venezuelan authorities say killed 83 people, and the Trump administration has justified the operation by alleging Maduro was part of a conspiracy to traffic cocaine to the U.S.
Beyond the courtroom, ABC News said Maduro’s home country has been grappling with a humanitarian disaster after back-to-back earthquakes in June, killing at least 5,278 people, while the Trump administration has rapidly warmed up its ties with Venezuela under acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
