— Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has asked a U.S. federal judge to dismiss the drug-trafficking charges against him, arguing that he is entitled to immunity as the head of a sovereign state, Reuters reports.Prosecutors have until October 2 to respond to Maduro's motion to dismiss the indictment, and District Judge Hellerstein will hold a hearing on the dismissal effort on November 17. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on June 1, 2027, unless the case is dismissed.
Maduro faces significant legal obstacles, as Washington has not recognized him as Venezuela’s legitimate president since 2019, while previous cases involving foreign leaders could also weigh against his immunity claim.
