The trial against the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will begin on June 1, 2027 in a federal court in New York, after a U.S. judge set the date for the process in which both will face charges related to arms and drug trafficking. The couple, who deny the charges, was transferred to the United States after being captured during a U.S. military operation in Caracas on January 3.
During the appearance, Judge Alvin Hellerstein also scheduled a pre-trial hearing for November 17, when the parties will present their arguments and motions before the formal start of the process. Maduro's defense, led by attorney Barry Pollack, indicated that they will attempt to argue that the former president was protected by sovereign immunity, a legal principle that, under certain circumstances, can prevent heads of state from being prosecuted by foreign courts.
The defense strategy could become one of the main points of discussion in the process, as U.S. prosecutors seek to move forward with the charges against Maduro and Flores. The case has generated significant anticipation due to the political history of the former Venezuelan leader and the serious allegations that have surrounded his regime for years.
The hearing held in New York was marked by a strong presence of the public. Numerous spectators lined up for hours to try to witness Maduro's attendance in person, whose regime has been accused for years of authoritarianism, repression of opponents, and the deterioration of democratic institutions in Venezuela.
Before the hearing began, a court official warned attendees that they must remain seated and avoid any interaction with the accused. "You cannot say anything to him," he noted, while also warning that those who disrupted the order could face legal consequences.
Maduro and Flores entered the room shortly after noon. The former president was wearing a beige prison uniform and was not handcuffed. Upon reaching his seat at the defense table, he gestured towards the audience before sitting next to Flores. Both remained silent and used headphones to receive translation while their lawyers discussed procedural aspects of the case with the judge.
