NEW YORK, United States — The deposed former president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, is scheduled to appear in a United States federal court in New York City on Thursday for the second time since his apprehension. This court appearance follows a high-profile nighttime military operation conducted by United States forces in early January, which resulted in his capture.
Nicolas Maduro, aged 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been detained in a federal holding facility in Brooklyn, New York, for nearly three months. The operation to remove him from power took place at their official residence in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. This significant shift in regional politics has seen the South American nation, which possesses the largest proven oil reserves in the world, align more closely with the administrative goals of United States President Donald Trump.
The former leader has characterized himself as a “prisoner of war.” He has formally pleaded not guilty to four federal charges, which include narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, and the illegal possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Okay News reports that the hearing, scheduled for 11:00 am West African Time (WAT, GMT+1), will focus on a request by the defense to dismiss the charges.
A central point of contention in the proceedings involves the payment of legal fees. While the current Venezuelan government intends to fund the defense, United States sanctions require the lead attorney, Barry Pollack, to obtain a specific license from the United States Department of the Treasury. Mr. Pollack argued in court filings that this requirement interferes with the defendant’s constitutional right to legal counsel.
Since his capture, Nicolas Maduro has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Sources indicate he remains in solitary confinement without access to the internet. His son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, recently shared that his father remains in high spirits despite the circumstances. “The lawyers told us he is strong. He said we must not be sad,” Maduro Guerra stated, adding that his father told him: “We are fine, we are fighters.”
The military raid on January 3, 2026, involved significant aerial and naval support. According to officials in Venezuela, the assault resulted in the deaths of at least 83 people and left more than 112 others injured. No United States military personnel were killed during the mission.
In the wake of his removal, Venezuela is currently led by President Delcy Rodriguez, who previously served as the Vice President under the Maduro administration. President Rodriguez has since moved to reform oil regulations and has issued an amnesty law to release political prisoners in an effort to stabilize the economy and restore diplomatic relations with Washington.
