Archive · 23 Jul 2026
US Court Sets 2027 Trial for Maduro
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are going to trial in the US for drug trafficking and firearms charges.
The trial is set to start on June 1, 2027.
Maduro and his wife were seized by US military forces in a raid in January and brought to New York.
Maduro's lawyer is arguing that the US is violating Maduro's sovereign immunity and constitutional rights by prosecuting him and blocking Venezuelan government funds for his legal defense.
The US court has denied the dismissal of the case.
Maduro and his wife have been jailed in Brooklyn since their seizure.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will go on trial in the US on June 1, 2027, for drug trafficking and firearms charges.
The couple was seized by US military forces in a raid in January and brought to New York.
Maduro's lawyer is challenging the indictment on sovereign immunity grounds and argues that the US is violating Maduro's constitutional rights by blocking Venezuelan government funds for his legal defense.
The US court has denied the dismissal of the case.
Maduro and his wife have been jailed in Brooklyn since their seizure.
- Who
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores
- What
- Trial for drug trafficking and firearms charges
- When
- June 1, 2027
- Where
- New York
- Why
- US military forces seized Maduro and his wife in a military raid in early January and brought them to the US for trial.
Maduro's Defense
US Prosecution
Sovereign Immunity
Maduro's Defense
Maduro's lawyer argues that the US is violating Maduro's sovereign immunity and constitutional rights by prosecuting him and blocking Venezuelan government funds for his legal defense.
US Prosecution
The US prosecution maintains that Maduro is subject to US law and that the charges against him are valid.
Use of Venezuelan Funds
Maduro's Defense
Maduro's lawyer contends that the US is unjustly preventing the Venezuelan government from paying for Maduro's legal fees.
US Prosecution
The US court has denied the dismissal of the case, indicating that it does not accept the argument that Maduro should be allowed to use Venezuelan government funds for his defense.
- Defendants
- Nicolas Maduro, Cilia Flores
- Charges
- Drug trafficking, firearms charges
- Trial Date
- June 1, 2027
- Location of Detention
- Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York
- Initial Arraignment
- January 5, 2024
- Seizure Date
- January 3, 2024
- Judge
- Alvin Hellerstein
- Lawyer
- Barry Pollack