Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured with his wife in a military raid by US armed forces, is to stand trial on alleged weapons and drug offenses starting June 1, 2027.
A New York judge named Alvin Hallerstein announced the trial date on Wednesday, July 22, after Maduro and his wife appeared in court.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2026, during which the judge will hear motions from both parties.
The former Venezuelan president’s lawyer suggested he would argue in his client’s defense by arguing that Maduro was protected by sovereign immunity, a legal principle that protects heads of state from prosecution.
Maduro was brought to the United States after the elite Delta force used a “discombobulator” as part of Operation Absolute Resolve to capture the former president.
He appeared in court in prison garb and said nothing other than greeting the audience just before leaving the court with U.S. marshals.
Several anti-war demonstrators gathered outside the court to protest the US military operation in Venezuela.
Some held signs with the slogans “Free President Maduro”. Several protesters called the proceedings against Maduro a “sham trial.”
