Tocorón Watch
Maduro and Cilia Flores consent to pausing the speedy-trial clock
Responding to the judge's April 27 order, counsel for Nicolás Maduro (Barry J. Pollack) and for Cilia Flores (Andres Sanchez and Mark Donnelly) confirmed by letter that both defendants consent to excluding the time between April 24, 2026 and the next conference under the Speedy Trial Act. The defense says the time will let it review discovery and prepare pretrial motions. The letter states the government joins the request and that all parties would be available for a conference the week of June 29.
- Court
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan) · case 1:11-cr-00205
- Judge
- Alvin K. Hellerstein · who he is
- Prosecution
- U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York (U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton)
- Defense
- Barry Pollack (Maduro) · Mark Donnelly (Cilia Flores)
- Next date
- September 30, 2026 · Defense reply on house arrest due
- Where it stands
- Maduro and Cilia Flores held at MDC Brooklyn since January 2026; both pleaded not guilty. Trial set for June 1, 2027. Hugo Carvajal pleaded guilty (June 2025) and awaits sentencing. Diosdado Cabello is charged but not in custody.
What it means
Federal law sets a deadline for trial to begin; "excluding time" means that period does not count. The letter meets the condition the judge set: express consent from both defendants and a stated reason. It is a procedural step, not a ruling on the merits.
What happens next
The defense proposes a conference the week of June 29 if the Court has a date available; the judge has yet to rule.
In the document's own words
“Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores de Maduro consent to the exclusion of time under the Speedy Trial Act between April 24, 2026 and the next court conference to allow the defense an opportunity to review discovery and prepare pretrial motions.”
“all parties would be available for a court conference the week of June 29, if there is a date that week available on the Court's calendar.”
How the court describes it (original, English)
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