Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores' U.S. trial hearing postponed to July 22
A federal court in the Southern District of New York has rescheduled the next hearing in the criminal case against former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The hearing, originally set for June 30, 2026, was moved to July 22, 2026. The U.S. prosecutor Jay Clayton and the defense jointly argued that the change was needed to avoid “problemas logísticos y de programación en relación con la provisión de transporte seguro y seguridad para el 30 de junio.” Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein accepted the request.
The postponement also excludes the interval between the two dates from the speedy‑trial clock under the U.S. Fast‑Track Trial Act. Both the prosecution and defense say the extra time will allow the prosecutor to deliver additional evidence and the defense to review it and file pre‑trial motions.
Maduro and Flores were seized in Venezuela on 3 January 2026 during a U.S.‑led military operation and have been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. They face federal charges of narcoterrorism, drug‑import conspiracy, illegal possession of military‑grade weapons and related offenses. Their legal team, which now includes attorney Anna Estevao, can be funded by the Venezuelan government after a court ruling lifted prior U.S. objections.
The case continues to draw international attention as it proceeds through the U.S. federal justice system.