U.S. Sets 2027 Trial Date for Maduro, Seeks Immunity for Venezuela’s Interim President Rodríguez

U.S. federal prosecutors and the defense of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have jointly proposed that the criminal trial begin in June 2027 in the Southern District of New York. The case, stemming from their January 3 capture by U.S. forces, charges the couple with narcoterrorism and cocaine‑importation conspiracies. The proposal outlines a schedule for evidence exchange, defense motions and classified‑material review before the trial can start.

Separately, the Trump administration, through a July 11 letter from State Department legal adviser Reed Rubinstein, asked the Justice Department to seek head‑of‑state immunity for Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez in a civil lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Florida. The suit alleges kidnappings, torture and terrorist acts linked to the chavista government. The administration argued that, as a recognized head of state since March 5, Rodríguez is immune and that “the special importance” of the case has "significant foreign‑policy implications." A July 15 default judgment of $314 million was entered against Maduro, Alex Saab and other officials, but Rodríguez was excluded from that award.