Maduro is not immune from prosecution in the narco-terror case, the US says Today’s news

Nicolás Maduro is not entitled to immunity from criminal charges, US prosecutors said, countering an effort by the former Venezuelan president to bring a US narco-terrorism case against him.

Maduro and Cilia Flores — Maduro’s wife, who also faces charges — are “former rogue officials of a previously rogue state without immunity,” the U.S. argued in a filing in Manhattan federal court late Friday.

His lawyer argued last month that he is immune from prosecution in the US as the head of a sovereign country.

President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke Maduro’s official recognition as Venezuela’s head of state in 2019 is entitled to “absolute respect” by the courts under US law, the government says. The U.S. recognizes interim President Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela’s head of state, and her government has not sought immunity for Maduro, prosecutors said.

Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, were captured by the US military in a raid on January 3 and subsequently charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, narco-terrorism and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Maduro and others worked with groups designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations and that he sought to enrich himself while holding posts in the Venezuelan government for more than a quarter century.

If convicted, he and his wife could spend the rest of their lives in prison. Both pleaded not guilty and last month asked a judge to dismiss the case.

Maduro and Flores are being held in federal custody in Brooklyn, New York while they await trial. A Manhattan judge will hear Flores’ request for release from custody on Thursday.

The case is US v. Maduro, 11-c-00205, US District Court, Southern District of New York.

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