Will Nicolás Maduro face a full U.S. criminal trial in 2026?
On January 5, 2026, deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores made their first appearance in a U.S. federal court in New York, following their capture and transfer by U.S. forces. Both pleaded not guilty to federal charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, while Maduro continued to claim he is Venezuela’s legitimate president and described his arrest as unlawful. The next hearing is set for March 17 2026. This unprecedented prosecution — blending criminal law and geopolitics — could have major implications for U.S.–Latin America relations, sanctions policy, and international legal norms around prosecuting former or disputed heads of state.
Conditions
Resolves “Yes” if, on or before April 30, 2026, a U.S. federal court formally advances Nicolás Maduro’s case into a substantive trial phase — such as denying motions to dismiss, confirming jurisdiction, setting a trial schedule, or beginning evidentiary proceedings — as confirmed by court filings or reporting from major international media. Otherwise — No.
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