Venezuela's Ex-Leader Faces U. S. Court on Serious Charges

Nicolás Maduro, once the president of Venezuela, is set to appear in a New York courtroom. This is his first time facing charges in the U. S. The charges are serious. They include drug trafficking and terrorism. The U. S. government says Maduro was involved in these crimes. Maduro and his wife were moved to the courthouse under heavy security. They left a Brooklyn jail early in the morning. A helicopter flew them across New York Harbor. Then, they were taken to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. Maduro was seen limping during the transfer. In court, Maduro will have the same rights as any other person accused of a crime. He will get a trial by a jury of regular New Yorkers. But his case is unusual. His lawyers will likely argue that he should not be tried. They will say he is immune as a former head of state. The U. S. does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader. This is especially true after a disputed election in 2024. The U. S. captured Maduro in a military operation. This happened at his home on a military base. President Trump said the U. S. will temporarily run Venezuela. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U. S. will not govern day-to-day. Instead, they will enforce an existing "oil quarantine. "The U. S. has accused Maduro and others of working with drug cartels. They say Maduro helped ship thousands of tons of cocaine into the U. S. If convicted, Maduro could face life in prison. It is unclear if Maduro has hired a U. S. lawyer yet. Maduro and his wife have been under U. S. sanctions for years. This means Americans cannot take money from them without permission. The indictment against Maduro says Venezuelan officials worked with the Tren de Aragua gang. But a U. S. intelligence report found no coordination between the gang and the Venezuelan government. Maduro, his wife, and his son are charged in the case. So are Venezuela's interior and justice minister and a former minister. The indictment accuses Maduro and his wife of ordering violent acts. This includes kidnappings, beatings, and murders. They did this to protect their drug trafficking operations. Maduro's wife is also accused of taking bribes. She allegedly arranged meetings between drug traffickers and government officials.