Venezuela’s Maduro seeks dismissal of US charges, citing immunity

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has asked a US judge to dismiss criminal drug trafficking charges against him, claiming his immunity as head of a sovereign nation. The charges, filed in Manhattan federal court, led to a US military raid and his capture in Caracas on January 3. Maduro, who has been imprisoned in Brooklyn federal jail since, denies the allegations and is set to stand trial on June 1, 2027, if his efforts to have the case dismissed fail.

International law generally protects sitting heads of state from prosecution abroad, but applying this principle in criminal cases is a contentious issue. Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued in a motion that the US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein lacks jurisdiction due to Venezuelan sovereignty and the nature of the alleged crimes as part of Maduro's official duties.

US authorities have not recognized Maduro as the country's president since 2019, and courts typically defer to the US president on such matters. Legal experts believe Maduro faces a difficult road, as precedent shows US courts are usually reluctant to grant such immunity claims.