Former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is scheduled to appear before a federal court in New York on Wednesday for his third public hearing since being taken into United States custody during a military operation earlier this year.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have remained in detention at a federal facility in Brooklyn since their arrest in January. Both are awaiting trial over charges that include drug trafficking, firearms offences and other related allegations.
The couple was captured on January 3 during a United States military operation in Caracas involving naval, air and ground forces. The mission led to Maduro’s removal from power after more than a decade as Venezuela’s leader.
Wednesday’s court session is expected to focus mainly on procedural matters as the legal process continues.
In April, following an extended legal dispute, the United States approved a request allowing the Venezuelan government to fund the legal defence of Maduro and his wife. The arrangement had previously been blocked under existing United States sanctions.
The couple had argued that denying them access to funding for their preferred legal representation violated their constitutional right to choose their own counsel. The decision cleared the way for Venezuela to cover their legal expenses.
Maduro has maintained his innocence and described himself as a prisoner of war. He has pleaded not guilty to four charges, including conspiracy to commit narco terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy involving those weapons.
Since his removal from office, Venezuela has been led by former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. Meanwhile, the United States has assumed effective control over the country’s oil exports, with proceeds reportedly being placed into specially managed accounts under Washington’s supervision.
