Former Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife set to appear in federal court

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife are scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing in federal court in Manhattan following their capture by U.S. special forces in Caracas two months ago. The couple's court appearance marks a significant development in what represents an extraordinary intervention in Venezuelan politics by the United States. Maduro has long been accused by the U.S. government of drug trafficking, money laundering, and crimes against humanity during his authoritarian rule in Venezuela. The pretrial hearing will likely address legal procedures and charges ahead of any trial. The case carries major implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations and signals a dramatic shift in how Washington is handling the political crisis in the South American nation.