Reuters

Nicols Maduro Court Live Updates Ousted Venezuelan President Appear 2026 03 26

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Live updates: Ex-Venezuelan leader Nicols Maduro faces New York court

Live updates: Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicols Maduro in court

Judge rejects request to dismiss drug trafficking charges against Nicols Maduro and his wife

New York Daily News

Ousted Venezuelan President Maduro arrives in NYC court, says sanctions stop him from paying lawyer

ABC Australia

Former Venezuelan president Nicols Maduro appears in New York court after January capture

FOX News

LIVE UPDATES: Venezuela's former ruler Nicols Maduro, wife Cilia Flores appear in NYC federal court

Al Jazeera

Venezuelas Maduro set to again appear in US court: How strong is the case?

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Wionews

Maduro Son Hails Us Legal System Calls Trial Illegitimate After Kidnapping Claim 1774548156593

Trump Department of Justice

SEALED SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT

BenjaminNorton

JonathanTurley

PaulDMauro

ManhattanInst

Nicolas Maduro

Evo Morales

Christopher Sabatini

William Freer

Olga Bazova

Freemason

Viri Rios

Metaculus

"There’s no way they [US troops] can enter Venezuela."

"I don't think the USA is going to invade Venezuela."

The Trump administration "has shown no signs so far of clear intent for direct military action."

"No one in their right mind thinks that with 4,500 people you can invade a country that's got mountains, jungle and multiple urban centers."

"It appears as if Mr. Peace President is looking into invading Venezuela under the pretext that the whole country is an illegal drug cartel and Maduro is a fugitive and an illegitimate president."

"It is my belief the United States will invade and Occupy Venezuela by Jan 2026."

Will the US Invade Venezuela?

Donald Trump

Gustavo Petro

John Feeley

Joe Sestak

Robert William Kelly

Juan Carlos Viloria Doria

Sergio Guzman

Stefan Peters

Sandra Borda

Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio

Government of Cuba

Ellie Cook

“Colombia can sleep soundly.”

"I cannot see the president actually – despite what he said – extending strikes into Colombia or to Cuba."

"It is unlikely the White House would take unilateral action given their historic cooperation with Colombian security forces."

"I don't believe that there will actually be a military strike or military intervention in Colombia. But the US is, of course, already exerting influence."

"But with elections coming up in Colombia in a few months' time, it's hardly worth it for the administration to attempt to remove Petro from power."

“[Peto] sees Trump and his threats no longer as empty, but as real possibilities.”

"I don't think the fact that Colombia is a long-standing ally of the United States is necessarily going to insulate it from potential action from the Trump administration, because I don't think that that's something that he considers to be a deal breaker."

“All nations of the region must remain alert, as the threat hangs over all.”

"The US is baring its teeth at Colombia."

"[Gustavo Petro's] not going to be doing it very long."

Will the U.S. Intervene in Colombia?

Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in Manhattan federal court on Thursday for their second hearing since <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/trump-orders-military-strikes-on-venezuela-facilities">being captured in a U.S. military raid on their Caracas compound on Jan. 3</a>. Both have <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/maduro-to-appear-in-manhattan-court-on-drug-charges">pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges</a>.

Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in Manhattan federal court on Thursday for their second hearing since being captured in a U.S. military raid on their Caracas compound on Jan. 3. Both have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The central dispute at the hearing was whether U.S. sanctions should block Venezuela from funding Maduro and Flores' legal defense. Their lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued the restrictions violated their Sixth Amendment right to counsel of their choice.

Paul Mauro

The central dispute at the hearing was whether U.S. sanctions should block Venezuela from funding Maduro and Flores' legal defense. Their lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued the restrictions violated their Sixth Amendment right to counsel of their choice.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he would not dismiss the case over the legal fees dispute, but signaled he may revisit that decision depending on how he rules on whether the Trump administration arbitrarily blocked Venezuela from paying the fees.

Jonathan Turley

Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he would not dismiss the case over the legal fees dispute, but signaled he may revisit that decision depending on how he rules on whether the Trump administration arbitrarily blocked Venezuela from paying the fees.

Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued that Maduro and Flores had "plundered" Venezuela's wealth and that allowing them to access those funds would "undermine the sanctions." Hellerstein pushed back, saying he saw "no abiding interest of national security" in blocking their right to mount a defense.

Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued that Maduro and Flores had "plundered" Venezuela's wealth and that allowing them to access those funds would "undermine the sanctions." Hellerstein pushed back, saying he saw "no abiding interest of national security" in blocking their right to mount a defense.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) approved a license for Venezuela to pay Maduro's legal fees on Jan. 9. However, the license was revoked hours later "without explanation," according to court filings by Pollack.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) approved a license for Venezuela to pay Maduro's legal fees on Jan. 9. However, the license was revoked hours later "without explanation," according to court filings by Pollack.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting before the hearing, President Donald Trump said "other cases are going to be brought" against Maduro, suggesting the current charges represented "a fraction" of his alleged conduct. No trial date was set at the Thursday hearing.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting before the hearing, President Donald Trump said "other cases are going to be brought" against Maduro, suggesting the current charges represented "a fraction" of his alleged conduct. No trial date was set at the Thursday hearing.

Maduro spent decades running a narco-state, flooding American streets with cocaine while partnering with terrorist groups like the FARC and Sinaloa Cartel — these sanctions exist because Maduro and his wife plundered Venezuela's wealth, and those aren't their funds to spend. Blocking Maduro from raiding Venezuela's treasury to bankroll their own defense isn't a constitutional violation; it's basic accountability. Foreign policy and national security justified these sanctions long before any courtroom drama.

Maduro spent decades running a narco-state, flooding American streets with cocaine while partnering with terrorist groups like the FARC and Sinaloa Cartel — these sanctions exist because Maduro and his wife plundered Venezuela's wealth, and those aren't their funds to spend. Blocking Maduro from raiding Venezuela's treasury to bankroll their own defense isn't a constitutional violation; it's basic accountability. Foreign policy and national security justified these sanctions long before any courtroom drama.

Manhattan Institute

Pro-establishment narrative

Once Maduro and Flores are in U.S. custody, the national security justification for blocking their legal funds collapses — the judge himself said they pose no threat to national security. The Sixth Amendment right to counsel of choice is paramount, and blocking Venezuelan government funds without a meaningful explanation is a direct constitutional violation. A prosecution that starves defendants of legal resources isn't justice, it's a rigged game.

Once Maduro and Flores are in U.S. custody, the national security justification for blocking their legal funds collapses — the judge himself said they pose no threat to national security. The Sixth Amendment right to counsel of choice is paramount, and blocking Venezuelan government funds without a meaningful explanation is a direct constitutional violation. A prosecution that starves defendants of legal resources isn't justice, it's a rigged game.

Maduro Attends Second Hearing

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Maduro Attends Second Hearing

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Establishment-critical narrative

Public Figures

The Controversies

Maduro

Rios

Freer

Sabatini

Bazova

Freemason

Petro

Sestak

Peters

Feeley

Guzman

Cuba

Borda

Trump

Go Deeper

Establishment split

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PRO

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