US prosecutors propose June 2027 trial for Venezuela's Maduro

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has proposed that the trial for former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, commence in June 2027. The couple faces charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

This proposal was outlined in a document filed with a federal court in New York. It precedes a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, where the trial's timeline will be discussed. The defense team is slated to present its initial arguments in September, with the government anticipating the submission of the majority of classified evidence by November.

The court document indicates that both parties are expected to complete the evidence exchange phase before the trial begins. Several preliminary stages remain, including motions from the defense and the review of classified materials pertinent to the case. The U.S. government anticipates progressing with the delivery of classified information in the coming months, while the defense will have until early 2027 to file further appeals before a definitive trial schedule is set.

Maduro, who declared himself not guilty in January, has been held in a federal prison in Brooklyn for over six months. A recent analysis by The New York Times suggests that U.S. courts might lack the authority to handle his case due to a specific U.S. law. The defense may attempt to dismiss the proceedings based on the circumstances and procedures of Maduro's capture in Caracas. The U.S. agreed in April to modify sanctions on Venezuela, allowing the government to pay the legal fees for the accused, a point frequently discussed in previous hearings.

“

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York proposed this Tuesday that the trial against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, accused of drug trafficking charges, begin in June 2027, according to a document filed before a federal court in New York.