Nicolas Maduro's Trial Date Set Amid Ouster Controversy

WHO:

ABC News - Nicolás Maduro, Cilia Flores, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, federal prosecutors, defense lawyers

ABC News - Trump administration, acting President Delcy Rodríguez

WHAT:

CNN - The criminal trial of Nicolás Maduro and his wife is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027.

CNN - Maduro's defense attorney, Barry Pollack, stated, "This is a realistic schedule. We don’t think it’s going to slip," regarding the trial date.

CNN - The Maduros face gun and cocaine importation conspiracy charges that prosecutors allege span more than 25 years.

ABC News - The proposed trial date for Maduro and Flores is June 2027.

ABC News - Prosecutors have already turned over the bulk of the non-classified evidence in the case and plan to turn over most classified materials by November.

ABC News - Both sides reserved the right to request to delay the trial, and prosecutors noted that the schedule might shift if they have issues with some of the classified evidence.

ABC News - Maduro and Flores last appeared in court in March, where his lawyers unsuccessfully pushed to have the case thrown out.

ABC News - The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control began allowing Maduro and Flores to receive money from Venezuela to pay for their attorneys in April.

ABC News - Maduro stated, "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," during his arraignment in January.

ABC News - Venezuela has been grappling with a humanitarian disaster following a pair of powerful back-to-back earthquakes in June, killing at least 5,278 people.

ABC News - The Trump administration has rapidly warmed up its ties with Venezuela under acting President Delcy Rodríguez, restoring diplomatic relations and loosening sanctions on the country.

ABC News - President Trump, in a primetime address to the nation, accused Maduro's regime of rigging Venezuela's 2020 elections using tools Trump alleged could be applied in the United States.

ABC News - The documents released by the White House contradicted those claims, concluding that the country lacks the ability "to manipulate the outcome of an election outside of Venezuela in a predictable fashion."

ABC News - Maduro and Flores are facing charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

ABC News - Prosecutors accuse Maduro and Flores of conspiring with drug cartels to facilitate the flow of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States.

ABC News - The proposed trial date for Maduro and Flores is June 2027.

ABC News - Maduro stated, "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country."

WHERE:

ABC News - Maduro and Flores are awaiting trial in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.

ABC News - The operation to capture Maduro occurred in Venezuela.

WHEN:

CNN - A court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, with oral arguments for the motion to dismiss the case scheduled for November.

ABC News - Both sides proposed that Maduro’s lawyers file their motion to dismiss the case based on sovereign immunity by September, with oral argument scheduled for November.

ABC News - Maduro’s other pretrial motions would be due in January.

ABC News - A court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

ABC News - The motion to dismiss the case based on sovereign immunity is due by September.

ABC News - Oral arguments for the motion are scheduled for November.

ABC News - Other pretrial motions are due in January.

ABC News - The military operation to capture Maduro occurred in January.

WHY:

ABC News - The charges stem from accusations of Maduro and Flores conspiring with drug cartels.

HOW:

CNN - The Maduros were captured during a January 3 nighttime raid ordered by President Trump, which involved U.S. Special Forces engaging in an intense firefight with Venezuelan air defenses.

CNN - The Maduros were captured from their heavily fortified home in Caracas after US forces descended on the presidential compound and engaged in an intense firefight with Venezuelan air defenses.

CNN - Maduro's attorney indicated he will challenge the legality of the arrest and argue that Maduro should have immunity since the alleged conduct occurred while he was in office.

CNN - The US Treasury Department later agreed that the Venezuelan government could fund Maduro's defense without violating sanction laws.

NY Post - U.S. Special Forces captured Maduro and his wife at their heavily guarded home in Caracas during a January 3 nighttime raid ordered by President Trump.

ABC News - Prosecutors have turned over the bulk of the non-classified evidence and plan to turn over most classified materials by November.

ABC News - The defense lawyers withdrew their motion to dismiss the case after the Treasury Department began allowing Maduro and Flores to receive money for their attorneys.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 23:20 UTC)

A court appearance is set for Wednesday, where oral arguments for the motion to dismiss the case will take place in November. The Maduros were captured during a nighttime raid on January 3, which was ordered by Trump and involved U.S. Special Forces in a fierce firefight with Venezuelan air defenses. This operation highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities in U.S.-Venezuelan relations.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 22:20 UTC)

In a dramatic turn of events, President Maduro and his family were captured from their heavily fortified home in Caracas after U.S. forces engaged in an intense firefight with Venezuelan air defenses. Both sides have proposed that Maduro’s lawyers file their motion to dismiss the case based on sovereign immunity by September, with oral arguments scheduled for November. Additionally, Maduro's other pretrial motions are due in January.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 17:26 UTC)

The criminal trial of Nicolás Maduro and his wife is set to begin on June 1, 2027, with defense attorney Barry Pollack expressing confidence that this timeline will hold. The couple faces serious charges related to gun and cocaine importation conspiracy, which prosecutors claim have been ongoing for over 25 years. Pollack plans to challenge the legality of Maduro's arrest, arguing that he should have immunity due to the alleged conduct occurring while he was in office, and the US Treasury Department has confirmed that the Venezuelan government can fund Maduro's defense without breaching sanction laws.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 16:25 UTC)

President Trump has announced a proposed trial date for Maduro and his wife, Flores, set for June 2027, as prosecutors have already provided most of the non-classified evidence and plan to release the majority of classified materials by November. Both sides have the option to request a delay, and the schedule may change if there are complications with the classified evidence. During his arraignment in January, Maduro maintained his innocence, stating, "I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," after being captured by U.S. Special Forces in a raid ordered by Trump.

(UPDATED July 22, 2026 09:45 UTC)

Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores are facing serious charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, accused by federal prosecutors of conspiring with drug cartels to smuggle thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. They are currently awaiting trial in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, with a proposed trial date set for June 2027, while Maduro maintains his innocence, stating, "I am a decent man. I am still president of my country." A court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, and the defense has withdrawn their motion to dismiss the case after the Treasury Department began allowing them to receive funds for legal representation.