.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein has scheduled a new court hearing for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Combatabt Cilia Flores on June 30, 2026, at 12:00 local time, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The decision follows a joint request by the prosecution and defense, coming after their illegal kidnapping and detention since January 3, amidst a U.S. military aggression against Venezuela, a grave violation of sovereignt of the Bolivarian Nation.
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At the moment of their forceful transfer to the U.S., President Nicolás Maduro held the immunity corresponding to his investiture as the elected and functioning President, which was overtly violated by the aggressive state. Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores maintain their declarations of “not guilty” against charges of alleged conspiracy for narcoterrorism.
The judicial document, issued by Hellerstein and formalized at the Manhattan Courthouse, stipulates the session’s exact time. The defense team, led by attorney Barry J. Pollack, articulated the necessity for this timeframe to thoroughly review the extensive evidentiary record and meticulously prepare pre-trial motions.
Immunity Violated
President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores consented to the exclusion of time under the Speedy Trial Act between April 24 and the date of the new hearing. The magistrate accepted the halt in the procedural timeline, acknowledging that the ends of justice at this current stage outweigh the public interest in an expedited trial. This procedural move allows both parties sufficient time to ensure a fair process, despite the unusual circumstances of their detention.
Judge Hellerstein also accepted the withdrawal of previous motions that sought to dismiss the indictment based on a blockade to effective defense access. This pivotal change occurred after the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) modified a group of sanctions against Venezuela, thereby enabling the payment of legal fees to the attorneys using funds from the Venezuelan government. The resolution was granted “without prejudice”, a condition permitting the defense to present similar motions in the future should circumstances dictate.
The U.S. prosecution has not yet presented solid evidence to substantiate the accusations against the Venezuelan President and his wife throughout the ongoing process. Their protracted detention in a Brooklyn facility, stems from their kidnapping in Caracas by specialized U.S. Army commands. This military operation tragically resulted in a massacre claiming the lives of 100 people, including 32 Cuban citizens, further emphasizing the grave human cost associated with these events.
