Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a New York court on Thursday, marking his second court appearance since his dramatic capture by United States forces earlier this year.
Maduro, 63, alongside his wife Cilia Flores, has been detained in a Brooklyn federal facility for nearly three months following a high-risk nighttime raid by American commandos in Caracas in early January.
The operation effectively ended his presidency, which began in 2013.
Facing multiple charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation, Maduro has pleaded not guilty, insisting he is a “prisoner of war.”
His legal team is expected to push for a dismissal of the case during Thursday’s proceedings, citing procedural concerns over restrictions tied to US sanctions.
His lawyer, Barry Pollack, has argued that the requirement for a special US license to allow Venezuela fund Maduro’s legal defense infringes on his constitutional rights.
Currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, Maduro is reportedly in isolation, with limited communication privileges. Sources say he spends his time reading religious texts and remains resolute despite his circumstances.
The January 3 operation that led to his arrest reportedly involved coordinated air and naval strikes, leaving dozens dead and over a hundred injured, according to Venezuelan authorities.
Meanwhile, Venezuela is now under the leadership of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who has initiated sweeping reforms under pressure from Washington.
These include the release of political prisoners and policy shifts aimed at reopening the country’s oil sector to foreign involvement.
The situation has also prompted a shift in US-Venezuela relations, with the United States Department of State signaling a gradual restoration of diplomatic ties.
Thursday’s hearing, overseen by veteran judge Alvin Hellerstein, is expected to draw heightened security as global attention remains fixed on one of the most extraordinary political and legal sagas in recent history.
