Maduro and Flores reappear in New York court, trial set for June 2027

Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, attended their third court hearing in New York concerning charges of narcoterrorism and drug trafficking. The hearing, which lasted only 18 minutes, saw federal judge Alvin Hellerstein preliminarily set June 2027 as the trial's commencement date.

Maduro, 63, appeared noticeably improved, walking normally into the courtroom without the limp that had been evident in prior appearances. He maintained his characteristic mustache and frequently adjusted his earpiece during the proceedings. Beside him, Cilia Flores, 69, also presented a healthier appearance, wearing her hair in a ponytail and sporting the same khaki prison jumpsuit as Maduro.

The defense team, led by Barry Pollack, plans to argue for Maduro's immunity as head of state at the time of his arrest. If successful, this motion could significantly alter the course of the legal process, potentially bypassing further rounds of motions. The prosecution anticipates completing the disclosure of most non-classified evidence by September 22 and classified evidence by November 15.

Maduro and Flores have been detained in a federal prison in Brooklyn since their capture in Caracas on January 3 by U.S. forces. They previously pleaded "not guilty" to all charges during their initial appearance on January 5. At that time, Maduro asserted his status as a "decent man" and the "constitutional president" of Venezuela. In March, during his second appearance, Maduro had shown more gray hair and a slight limp.

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If accepted, the officialist would not have to submit to the second round of motions, which will include other evidence.