NEW YORK, United States – A United States federal court has scheduled the trial of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to begin on June 1, 2027, months after they were brought to the United States to face criminal charges they both deny.
Okay News reports that Judge Alvin Hellerstein fixed the trial date on Wednesday and also scheduled a pre-trial hearing for November 17, 2026, when both the prosecution and defence are expected to present legal motions before the case proceeds.
US authorities allege that Maduro and Flores were captured during a military operation at their residence in Caracas on January 3, 2026, before being transferred to New York to face charges linked to alleged weapons and drug offences. Their legal team has rejected the accusations, with defence lawyer Barry Pollack indicating he will argue that Maduro is protected from prosecution under the principle of sovereign immunity, which grants legal protections to serving or former heads of state under certain circumstances.
The hearing attracted a packed courtroom, with spectators arriving hours early for a chance to see the former Venezuelan leader. Maduro, dressed in a beige prison uniform and wearing translation headphones, briefly acknowledged those in attendance before leaving the courtroom under the custody of US Marshals.
Outside the courthouse, demonstrators expressed sharply divided views. Anti-war activists condemned the US operation that led to Maduro’s arrest and described the proceedings as politically motivated, while several Venezuelan expatriates welcomed the prosecution, arguing that the former leader should face justice over his years in power.
