Nicolás Maduro, the ousted president of Venezuela, appeared before a federal court in Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday to attend a hearing regarding the scheduling of proceedings in his case. The judge set the start date for his trial for 1 June 2027.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested following a nighttime operation by United States special forces on 3 January 2027 in Caracas and were subsequently transferred to New York. U.S. officials have stated that the operation was carried out on the orders of U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. prosecutors have charged Maduro with four criminal counts, including conspiracy to commit “narco-terrorism” and conspiracy to import cocaine. Maduro and his wife have denied all charges and have pleaded not guilty in court. Under U.S. law, if convicted, he could face a sentence of life imprisonment.
According to court filings, Maduro’s defence attorneys intend to submit a motion seeking dismissal of the indictment. They argue that, as the leader of a sovereign state, their client is entitled to legal immunity. Maduro’s lawyer has also previously indicated that the legality of the operation that led to his arrest could be challenged during the proceedings.
Maduro, who governed Venezuela from 2013 until his arrest, referred to himself as a “prisoner of war” during his first court appearance. He also accused the United States of seeking his removal in order to gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
The U.S. government has accused Maduro of corruption, economic mismanagement, and electoral fraud in the 2018 and 2024 presidential elections, and since 2019 has ceased recognizing him as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
Following Maduro’s arrest, his vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, assumed control of Venezuela’s government. At the same time, relations between the Venezuelan government and the Trump administration have expanded, with the United States easing some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry. Foreign companies have also increased their activities in Venezuela’s oil and gas sector.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
