Maduro, wife seek dismissal of drug trafficking indictment on immunity grounds
September 3, 2026 / 5:08 AM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- Maduro and his wife are requesting the dismissal of drug trafficking charges based on sovereign immunity.
- Their lawyers argue that a sitting head of state is exempt from the criminal process of any national court but their own.
- The couple has pleaded not guilty to charges first brought six years ago and face potential life sentences.
- Oral arguments on the motions to dismiss are scheduled for November 17.
- Maduro maintains he is a prisoner of war and has vehemently denied the allegations.
- U.S. prosecutors allege Maduro conspired to traffic thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S.