US court sets June 2027 trial for Venezuelan President Maduro

NEW YORK, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores will go on trial starting on June 1, 2027, a US judge ruled on Wednesday.

The couple, who pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and firearms charges, made their third appearance in a New York court after the forcible seizure by US troops in a military raid in early January.

During Wednesday's 15-minute hearing, Judge Alvin Hellerstein set the trial date at the request of lawyers on both sides.

Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he will first challenge the indictment on sovereign immunity grounds because if that is successful, Maduro will not have to continue litigating the case.

On Jan 3, US military forces launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife before transporting them to New York. The US attacks have shocked the international community, triggering a stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.

During his first arraignment on Jan 5, Maduro pleaded not guilty to all US charges against him, including drug trafficking.

The couple has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since their seizure in Caracas.