US court reschedules Alex Saab trial to November 16

The U.S. trial for Alex Saab, accused of being a key financial operative for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has been postponed. A joint request from the defense and prosecution led U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams to reschedule the initial hearing from September 8 to November 16, 2026.

This delay, exceeding 60 days, is intended to give both legal teams adequate time to meticulously review extensive financial evidence and prepare their respective cases. Judge Williams has also excluded the period between August 14 and November 16 from the Speedy Trial Act's time limits, effectively extending the preparation window.

Saab faces serious money laundering charges linked to Venezuela's CLAP food program and the state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). His case is considered highly controversial due to its direct connection to ongoing U.S. legal proceedings against Maduro. The prosecution views Saab as a crucial witness who could provide testimony supporting accusations against the former Venezuelan leader, whose own trial is set for June 2027.

Colombian businessman Saab, 54, was arrested in Cabo Verde in 2020 and extradited to the U.S. He was briefly released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange involving the Venezuelan government but was later deported to Florida by the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez following Maduro's capture in Caracas. Saab remains in custody awaiting his rescheduled trial.