Maduro Seeks Dismissal of Drug Charges Via Immunity

Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have asked a federal judge in Manhattan to dismiss the drug trafficking and narcoterrorism charges against them, arguing they are protected by sovereign immunity. The motion, filed on Wednesday, contends that U.S. courts lack the authority to prosecute Maduro as the recognized head of state of Venezuela. Maduro's legal team asserted in court documents that a long-standing rule exempts heads of state from the criminal processes of national courts other than their own. They argue that the alleged actions, such as issuing diplomatic passports and announcing foreign policy, constituted official government acts performed on behalf of Venezuela. The defense also claims the indictment stretches federal statutes beyond congressional limits and violates due process rights. The U.S. government has not recognized Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president since 2019, following his disputed 2018 election victory. The federal indictment describes Maduro as the country's former president and its subsequent de facto, illegitimate ruler.