Judge Reschedules Hearing for Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores

A federal judge has rescheduled the upcoming hearing for Venezuela's former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The session, initially set for June 30, will now take place on July 22. The postponement was formally requested by Jay Clayton, the federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York.

The prosecutor's office, with the agreement of the defense attorneys, submitted a letter to Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein explaining the necessity of the date change. The primary reason cited was to "avoid logistical and scheduling problems related to the provision of secure transport and security for June 30." The government also stated that the period between the original and the new hearing date would be excluded from the time calculation under the Speedy Trial Act.

This new date is expected to allow the prosecution sufficient time to present evidence supporting their charges against the couple. It will also provide the defense adequate time to review this evidence and prepare any pre-trial motions they intend to file. Maduro and Flores were reportedly detained in Venezuela on January 3 following a military operation ordered by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

They are currently facing charges in a federal court in New York, including narcoterrorism, conspiracy to export drugs into the United States, and weapons possession. Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Venezuelan government is reportedly funding their defense, a move that faced initial opposition from the U.S. government but was ultimately permitted by the judge. However, the judge prohibited the defense from sharing case evidence with co-defendants who have not yet been apprehended, such as Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.