US judge sets June 2027 trial date for Venezuela's Maduro and wife

A US judge has set a trial date of June 1, 2027, for former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. Both have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody at a Brooklyn detention facility.

Trial Date Set

Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York approved the date during a 15-minute hearing on Wednesday, following a joint proposal from prosecutors and defense attorneys. The schedule may shift due to the complexity of classified evidence Source: CNN. Six pre-trial milestones are planned, including a November hearing for defense motions Source: DW News.

Defense Challenges

Maduro's lead counsel, Barry Pollack, indicated he will challenge the indictment on sovereign immunity grounds, arguing Maduro was a head of state when the alleged conduct occurred Source: BBC. He also contests the legality of the US military raid that captured Maduro from Caracas in January 2026, calling it a "kidnapping" Source: AP News. The judge has yet to rule on these issues.

Prosecution Allegations

Prosecutors allege that Maduro used Venezuela's state apparatus to smuggle thousands of tons of cocaine into the US, conspiring with drug cartels Source: The Guardian. The charges carry a potential life sentence if convicted. Maduro has described himself as a "prisoner of war" and maintains his innocence Source: Al Jazeera.

Political Context

Since Maduro's ouster, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has taken power and moved to normalize relations with Washington. The US has eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry Source: DW News. Protests outside the courthouse reflected both support for Maduro as a political prisoner and approval of his prosecution Source: BBC.