Venezuela’s Maduro asserts immunity in US court, urges dismissal of charges

Key Points:

• Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has asked a US judge to dismiss drug trafficking charges against him, claiming immunity as a sovereign head of state, with his legal team filing the motion in Manhattan district court.
• Maduro was captured and imprisoned in January following a US-authorized military raid in Caracas; he has pleaded not guilty and faces trial scheduled for June 1, 2027, if the dismissal effort fails.
• His lawyer argues that Maduro’s alleged acts were official duties and that prosecuting a sitting head of state violates longstanding international law principles granting immunity from foreign criminal jurisdiction.
• Legal experts suggest Maduro faces significant challenges since the US has not recognized him as Venezuela’s legitimate president since 2019, complicating his immunity claim; precedent in similar cases like Manuel Noriega’s does not favor him.
• Since Maduro’s detention, his vice president Delcy Rodriguez has acted as Venezuela’s interim leader, increasing cooperation with the US, including an oil deal; prosecutors must respond to the dismissal motion by October 2, with a hearing set for November 17.