Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday announced that the state’s attorney general is “looking very seriously” at bringing criminal charges against Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan dictator who is currently detained in New York City federal custody.
The announcement was made during a press conference in Clearwater, Florida, where DeSantis emphasized that Florida has the right to pursue state-level prosecutions for crimes impacting the state. “We also have the right as a state to bring pertinent charges in state court, and we’re working on that,” DeSantis stated.
DeSantis noted that the state’s attorney general would lead efforts to file charges in locations such as Miami or Doral—both communities with significant Venezuelan immigrant populations. He highlighted recent celebrations in these areas following Maduro’s fall from power, calling it a moment “that has been a long time coming.”
Currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores face federal charges related to narco-terrorism stemming from a cocaine-trafficking operation conducted by Venezuelan military officials. DeSantis pointed to Maduro’s role in drug trafficking that has affected Florida, stating: “He was obviously very involved with bringing drugs, particularly to Florida.”
The governor also criticized Maduro for actions not covered in the federal indictment, noting that the dictator would allegedly empty prisons and send detainees across the border into the United States. DeSantis urged residents to “stay tuned” for further developments as the state prepares potential charges.
