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By Anna Commander
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Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis floated the possibility of new state charges against captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday.
Newsweek reached out to DeSantis' office via email for additional information.
Why It Matters
Florida has one of the largest Venezuelan exile populations in the United States, and developments in prosecutions against Maduro have direct significance for the state’s voters and the broader U.S. approach to international crime and justice.
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DeSantis' publicly floated suggestion that Florida may pursue its own charges comes as the federal case against Maduro intensifies, framing a scenario with both legal and political consequences for U.S.-Venezuelan relations and the millions affected by Venezuela’s political turmoil.
Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was captured by U.S. forces over the weekend in Caracas and brought to face federal drug-trafficking and weapons charges in New York.
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What To Know
The capture of Maduro and his wife followed a newly unsealed federal indictment in New York, charging Maduro on four federal counts, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and related conspiracies.
Speaking at a public event in Baker County, Florida, on Monday, Governor DeSantis reacted to the arrest by stating, "For many, many years, we've seen the country of Venezuela suffering under the yoke of Marxist ideology, first with (the late President) Hugo Chavez and then with Nicolás Maduro, and we've had a lot of people in the state of Florida that have firsthand knowledge of that," CBS News reports.
The governor also took to social media on Monday, reacting to a post about betting odds for Maduro being potentially convicted in New York, saying, "Dunno but I bet those odds will be different if/when Maduro faces state charges in Miami."
In a follow-up post replying to an X user who asked whether there are Florida charges, DeSantis said, "Stay tuned…"
What People Are Saying
Vice President JD Vance on X over the weekend: "The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says. Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation."
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut on X on Monday: "This wasn't about the drugs - Venezuela sends drugs to Europe, not the U.S. (and it's cocaine, not fentanyl). This wasn't about helping Venezuela - they left Maduro's despotic regime in charge. This was about oil and Wall Street. How do we know? Because Trump keeps saying it!"
What Happens Next
The federal trial of Nicolás Maduro and his wife is expected to proceed in Manhattan, with prosecutors preparing to present evidence on the alleged international drug conspiracy.
Update 1/5/25 6:22 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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