Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Wife Seek to Dismiss Drug Charges via Immunity Claims Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have filed legal motions in a Manhattan federal court to dismiss drug trafficking charges against them, arguing that their status as foreign leaders grants them immunity from U.S. prosecution. The lawyers for Maduro and Flores contend that the indictment violates principles of sovereign immunity, asserting that no American court has ever tried a foreign head of state for criminal offenses while in office. The motions, submitted on Wednesday, claim that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction to prosecute Maduro and Flores, who are scheduled to stand trial on drug trafficking charges in June. Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, have been detained at a Brooklyn jail since their arrest in a surprise raid by U.S. authorities in early January. The raid, conducted at their home in Caracas, led to their transfer to New York, where they remain held pending trial. Their legal team emphasized that Maduro’s immunity stems from his role as Venezuela’s head of state, while Flores’ immunity is tied to her position as first lady. Lawyers for Flores stated that sovereignty is an inherent attribute of Venezuela, and only the country itself can waive its immunity. Maduro’s attorneys further argued that even if sovereign immunity did not apply, the case against him should still be dismissed due to conduct-based immunity. They claimed Maduro “vehemently denies the allegations” and that a trial would reveal his innocence. The charges, which date back to a case first filed six years ago, allege that Maduro conspired with Venezuelan officials to facilitate the smuggling of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. If convicted, both face potential life sentences.#caracas #nicolas_maduro #manhattan_federal_court #cilia_flores #brooklyn_jail
