US judge sets 2027 trial date for Venezuela's Maduro and wife

A US judge on Wednesday set a June 1, 2027 trial date for former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The couple was abducted from Venezuela during a US military attack in January 2026. Both have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges and deny the basic legitimacy of the trial. The 15-minute court hearing saw no statements from the defendants.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has justified the January 2026 military raid on Caracas and the abduction of the couple—widely termed illegal by international legal scholars—by alleging that Maduro, while head of state, was part of a conspiracy to traffic cocaine to the US.

Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he plans to challenge the legality of the military operation that captured Maduro and brought him to the US. He stated he would first challenge the case on grounds of sovereign immunity, which if successful would mean Maduro no longer has to litigate.

Neither Maduro nor Flores has requested release on bail. Judge Alvin Hellerstein set next year's trial date at the request of attorneys from both sides. Maduro faces four counts, including "narco-terrorism" conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy, and could face life in prison if convicted.

The Trump administration has called the attack on Venezuela, which Venezuelan authorities say killed 83 people, a "surgical law enforcement operation" in a criminal case first brought six years ago. The Venezuelan presidency has since been filled by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who has aligned the country more closely with US interests.