--- title: "US Prosecutors Say Maduro Not Immune to Narco-Terror Charges" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-prosecutors-say-maduro-not-immune-to-narco-terror-charges" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-prosecutors-say-maduro-not-immune-to-narco-terror-charges" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-prosecutors-say-maduro-not-immune-to-narco-terror-charges.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-prosecutors-say-maduro-not-immune-to-narco-terror-charges" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-05T03:05:12.040Z" source_reported: "2026-10-04T22:31:01.000Z" updated: "2026-10-05T03:05:12.040Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-05T03:00:49.746899+00:00" --- # US Prosecutors Say Maduro Not Immune to Narco-Terror Charges *Government counters former Venezuelan president's bid to dismiss charges, citing lack of recognition as head of state.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 23 digests corroborate the central claim, with specific charges named. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates the US argument from Maduro's defense and details the charges. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is neutral and factual, with no sensationalism or exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US prosecutors stated Nicolás Maduro is not entitled to immunity from criminal charges. - Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face charges including cocaine importation conspiracy and narco-terrorism conspiracy. - The US government argues it does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's head of state, a key point in rejecting his immunity claim. - If convicted, Maduro and Flores could face life imprisonment. US prosecutors have argued that Nicolás Maduro is not entitled to immunity from criminal charges, countering the former Venezuelan president's attempt to have the narco-terrorism case against him dismissed. The US government stated that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are "former rogue officials of a formerly rogue state with no entitlement to immunity." Maduro's defense team had argued that he is immune to prosecution as the head of a sovereign country. However, the US government countered that President Donald Trump's decision in 2019 to withdraw official recognition of Maduro as Venezuela's head of state is entitled to "absolute deference" by the courts. Prosecutors noted that the US recognizes interim President Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela's head of state, and her government has not sought immunity for Maduro. Maduro and Flores were captured by the US military in a January 3 raid and subsequently charged with cocaine importation conspiracy, narco-terrorism conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Federal prosecutors alleged that Maduro partnered with groups designated by the US as foreign terrorist organizations and sought to enrich himself while in government positions. Both have pleaded not guilty and have asked the judge to dismiss the case. If convicted, they could spend the rest of their lives in prison. ## Disagreement on Recognition US prosecutors stated that the US recognizes interim President Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela’s head of state and her government has not sought immunity for Maduro. Digests from El Tiempo, La Nación, Caraota Digital, Aristegui Noticias, pnt.cl, Opinión Bolivia, VilaWeb.cat, El Periodista Online, Noticias de Navarra, Deia, noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus, noticiasdealava.eus, Aporrea, voz.us, Efecto Cocuyo, unn.ua, The Mercury news, Lodinews.com, Diario La Verdad, EL NACIONAL, and Monitoreamos all reported that the US does not recognize Maduro as president. Live Mint and The spokesman-Review reported that the US recognizes interim President Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela's head of state and her government has not sought immunity for Maduro. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated, centre-rated, or right-rated digests mention that Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores are being held in a federal lockup in Brooklyn, New York, while awaiting trial. The digests also do not mention that a judge in Manhattan will hear Flores’ request to be released on bond on Thursday. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 50% (5) - Centre: 20% (2) - Right: 30% (3) 15 of 25 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-05T03:00:49.746899+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-05T03:15:24.271Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led on the US prosecutors' statement that Nicolás Maduro is not entitled to immunity from criminal charges. These reports detailed the charges against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, including cocaine importation conspiracy and narco-terrorism conspiracy. They also highlighted the US government's position that it does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's head of state, with some mentioning the January 3 military raid in which Maduro and Flores were captured. The potential for life imprisonment if convicted was also noted. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the US prosecutors' assertion that Nicolás Maduro is not immune to prosecution in the narco-terrorism case. They stated that the US government countered Maduro's bid to dismiss the charges by arguing that it does not recognize him as Venezuela's head of state. The charges against Maduro and Cilia Flores, including conspiracy and possession of weapons, were mentioned, as was the potential for life imprisonment upon conviction. ### Right - The right-rated reports highlighted that the United States has dismissed Nicolás Maduro's immunity because it does not consider him the president of Venezuela. These reports stated that the US rejects the immunity claims of both Maduro and Cilia Flores and is calling for the continuation of the process for narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons charges. The potential for trial was also mentioned. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 6 - unknown: 15 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [El Tiempo](https://eltiempo.com/mundo/eeuu-y-canada/estados-unidos-desestima-la-inmunidad-de-nicolas-maduro-porque-no-lo-considera-presidente-de-venezuela-3591162) — United States Dismisses Nicolás Maduro’s Immunity because He Does Not Consider Him President of Venezuela - [La Nación, Grupo Nación](https://nacion.com/el-mundo/estados-unidos-desestima-la-inmunidad-de-maduro/5HZ5O3OBPJHVJE6K442DQAASLE/story) — United States Dismisses Maduro’s Immunity because He Does Not Consider Him President of Venezuela - [Caraota Digital](https://caraotadigital.net/eeuu/la-razon-por-la-que-la-fiscalia-se-nego-a-reconocer-a-maduro-como-presidente-y-pidio-rechazar-su-inmunidad) — The Reason the Prosecutor’s Office Refused to Recognize Maduro as “President” and Asked to Reject His Immunity - [Aristegui Noticias](https://aristeguinoticias.com/0410/mundo/fiscalia-de-ee-uu-pide-mantener-proceso-contra-maduro-y-flores-rechaza-argumento-de-inmunidad) — U.S. Attorney General's Office Asks to Continue Trial Against Maduro and Flores; Rejects Immunity Argument - [pnt.cl](https://puranoticia.pnt.cl/internacional/estados-unidos-desestima-inmunidad-de-nicolas-maduro-al-no-reconocerlo-como) — United States Dismisses Immunity of Nicolás Maduro by Not Recognizing Him as President - [Opinión Bolivia](https://opinion.com.bo/mundo/eeuu-desestima-inmunidad-maduro-porque-considera-presidente-venezuela/20261004101608997115.html) — US Dismisses Maduro’s Immunity because He Does Not Consider Him President of Venezuela - [VilaWeb.cat](https://vilaweb.cat/noticies/els-eua-rebutgen-la-immunitat-de-maduro-perque-no-els-reconeixen-com-a-president-de-venecuela) — The US Rejects Maduro's Immunity because They Do Not Recognize Him as President of Venezuela - [El Periodista Online](https://elperiodista.cl/2026/10/eeuu-rechaza-inmunidad-de-maduro-y-sostiene-que-no-es-presidente-de-venezuela) — U.S. Rejects Maduro's Immunity and Maintains that He Is Not President of Venezuela - [Noticias de Navarra](https://noticiasdenavarra.com/actualidad/2026/10/04/eeuu-desestima-inmunidad-maduro-considera-presidente-11615283.html) — US Dismisses Maduro’s Immunity because He Does Not Consider Him President of Venezuela - [Deia](https://deia.eus/actualidad/2026/10/04/eeuu-desestima-inmunidad-maduro-considera-presidente-11615284.html) — US Dismisses Maduro’s Immunity because He Does Not Consider Him President of Venezuela - [noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus](https://noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus/actualidad/2026/10/04/eeuu-desestima-inmunidad-maduro-considera-presidente-11615285.html) — US Dismisses Maduro’s Immunity because He Does Not Consider Him President of Venezuela - [noticiasdealava.eus](https://noticiasdealava.eus/actualidad/2026/10/04/eeuu-desestima-inmunidad-maduro-considera-presidente-11615282.html) — US Dismisses Maduro’s Immunity because He Does Not Consider Him President of Venezuela - [Aporrea](https://aporrea.org/ddhh/n424271.html) — U.S. Attorney's Office Rejects Request to Dismiss the Case Against Nicolás Maduro for "Immunity" - [voz.us](https://voz.us/es/politica/261004/39642/justicia-nueva-york-frena-pretensiones-inmunidad-nicolas-maduro-cilia-flores-juicio-narcotrafico.html) — New York Justice Stops the Immunity Pretensions of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores Before Drug Trafficking Trials · Global Voices - [Efecto Cocuyo](https://efectococuyo.com/politica/departamento-de-estado-ratifica-ante-la-fiscalia-que-desconoce-a-maduro-como-presidente-de-la-republica) — State Department Ratifies that Maduro Is Not Known as President of the Republic - [unn.ua](https://unn.ua/news/ssha-zaiavyly-shcho-maduro-ne-maie-imunitetu-vid-peresliduvannia-u-spravi-pro-narkoteroryzm) — US Says Maduro Has No Immunity From Prosecution in Drug Terrorism Case - [The Mercury news](https://mercurynews.com/2026/10/03/maduro-not-immune-to-prosecution-in-narco-terror-case-us-says-2) — Maduro not immune to prosecution in narco-terror case, US says - [Lodinews.com](https://lodinews.com/news/national/article_6426dd52-75c1-57b7-8ff4-ea8523a57847.html) — Maduro not immune to prosecution in narco-terror case, US says - [Live Mint](https://livemint.com/news/us-news/maduro-not-immune-to-prosecution-in-narco-terror-case-us-says-11791061733010.html) — Maduro Not Immune to Prosecution in Narco-Terror Case, US Says - [Diario La Verdad](https://laverdad.com/fiscalia-de-ee-uu-pide-rechazar-inmunidad-alegada-por-maduro-y-cilia-flores) — U.S. Attorney General Asks to Reject Immunity Alleged by Maduro and Cilia Flores - [The Rio Times](https://riotimesonline.com/venezuela-maduro-cilia-flores-no-immunity-trial-2026) — Venezuela: US Prosecutors Say Maduro and Cilia Flores Have No Immunity, Seek Trial - [EL NACIONAL](https://elnacional.com/2026/10/fiscalia-de-ee-uu-rechazo-inmunidad-de-nicolas-maduro-y-cilia-flores-y-exigio-avanzar-con-el-juicio) — U.S. Attorney's Office Rejected Immunity From Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores and Demanded to Advance the Trial - [The spokesman-Review](http://spokesman.com/stories/2026/oct/03/maduro-not-immune-to-prosecution-in-narco-terror-c) — Maduro not immune to prosecution in narco-terror case, U.S. says - [Bloomberg](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-03/maduro-not-immune-to-prosecution-in-narco-terror-case-us-says) — Maduro Not Immune to Prosecution in Narco-Terror Case, US Says - [Monitoreamos](https://monitoreamos.com/venezuela/fiscalia-eeuu-desecha-argumentos-maduro-cilia-flores) — U.S. Attorney General Says Maduro and Cilia Flores Do Not Have "Immunity" and Asks the Judge to Continue the Trial ## Questions **Why are US prosecutors saying Nicolás Maduro is not immune to charges?** US prosecutors argue that Nicolás Maduro is not entitled to immunity because the US does not recognize him as Venezuela's head of state. They stated that President Trump withdrew recognition in 2019 and the US recognizes interim President Delcy Rodriguez. **What charges do Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores face?** Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face charges including cocaine importation conspiracy, narco-terrorism conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. They have pleaded not guilty to these charges. **What is the potential penalty if Maduro and Flores are convicted?** If convicted of the charges they face, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores could spend the rest of their lives in prison. They were captured by the US military in a January 3 raid. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-prosecutors-say-maduro-not-immune-to-narco-terror-charges. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US Prosecutors Say Maduro Not Immune to Narco-Terror Charges", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-prosecutors-say-maduro-not-immune-to-narco-terror-charges