U.S. prosecutor withdraws from Maduro and Flores case

Jason A. Richman, a high-ranking prosecutor and co-chief of the National Security Division at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, has formally requested to withdraw from the criminal case against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. Richman, a veteran attorney specializing in national security and international narcotics, ceased his duties at the federal prosecutor's office on September 25, 2026.

Maduro and Flores face charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and weapons-related offenses. The legal proceedings follow an updated indictment issued after Maduro's capture in Caracas in January 2026. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

The departure of a lead prosecutor occurs less than nine months before the oral trial, which is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027. While the case will continue under the National Security Division, the change represents a significant shift in the prosecution's leadership. Meanwhile, the defense has filed motions to dismiss the case based on sovereign immunity and has requested bail for Cilia Flores, citing a severe deterioration in her health during detention.