RismadarVoice Reporters
September 3, 2026
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has asked a United States federal judge to dismiss criminal charges against him, arguing that he is protected from prosecution by head-of-state immunity.
Maduro’s legal team filed a motion before a Manhattan federal court, claiming that as the leader of a sovereign nation, he should be granted immunity from criminal proceedings and that the allegations against him relate to actions carried out in his official capacity.
The charges against Maduro include allegations of drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, conspiracy and money laundering. The case followed a U.S. military operation in Caracas on January 3, 2026, which led to his capture. Maduro, who is being held in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, has pleaded not guilty.
His lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued that the prosecution violates long-standing principles of international law, stating that foreign heads of state and officials acting in their official roles have historically enjoyed immunity from criminal jurisdiction.
However, legal experts have said Maduro faces significant challenges in convincing the court to accept the immunity argument. The United States stopped recognising Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president in 2019, and courts have traditionally given weight to the U.S. government’s position on recognition of foreign leaders.
The case is expected to test how U.S. courts apply international law principles in criminal proceedings involving foreign political leaders. Prosecutors have until October 2 to respond to Maduro’s request, while Judge Alvin Hellerstein has scheduled a hearing on the dismissal motion for November 17.
If the request is unsuccessful, Maduro’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027.
