U.S. federal prosecutors and defense lawyers have proposed that the trial of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores begin in June 2027. The proposal, reported by ABC News citing a court document, comes ahead of a scheduled hearing where U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein may approve the timeline. Both sides have already exchanged pretrial proposals, confidential evidence, and a tentative schedule for the proceedings.

According to the proposed timeline, Maduro’s legal team will submit documents supporting his claim of state sovereign immunity by September this year, with arguments expected in November. Hearings on other defense motions are planned for January next year. Prosecutors said most unclassified and general evidence has been shared, and the majority of classified materials should be submitted by November. Both parties retain the right to request a delay if necessary, especially if complications arise over classified information.

Maduro and Flores were arrested in January following a U.S. military operation in Venezuela and face charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to traffic cocaine into the United States. Maduro has pleaded not guilty, maintaining he remains Venezuela’s legitimate president.