Name: DeSantis signals Florida could pursue state charges against Maduro
Uploaded: 2026-01-07T04:27:32.175Z
Duration: 2 min 37 s
Description: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state may pursue unprecedented criminal charges against ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state may pursue unprecedented criminal charges against ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state may consider pursuing criminal charges against former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. DeSantis cited possible offenses including narcotics trafficking, gang violence, and immigration-related impacts, and stated that the Florida Attorney General's office would oversee any such case.

The timeline for state charges remains unclear as Maduro is already facing a federal indictment in New York. Some Democratic figures have expressed support for a trial in Miami, referencing the city's experience with drug-related crime and its significant Venezuelan American population. The next steps will depend on the outcome of the federal proceedings.

DeSantis signals Florida could pursue state charges against Maduro

Governor DeSantis says that Florida may take legal action against ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The governor said today it was a possibility while speaking in Clearwater this morning. Capital Reporter Forrest Saunders tonight taking a closer look at the reaction and the reality. Up in D.C., politicians continue to debate what's next after President Trump's ouster of Nicolas Maduro. Look, there's, I expect that there will be an election called in Venezuela. I did not receive any assurances that we would not try to do the same thing in other countries. But here in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis offered what he says could be next for the Venezuelan leader in the Sunshine State. Potentially a state case against Nicolas Maduro. State criminal charges DeSantis said could include narcotics trafficking, gang violence and immigration impacts tied to Venezuela. He would empty his prisons and send them to America across the border. And we'd end up with some of these people in Florida, Tren de Aragua gang members that were in prison there. And he did that. And so to me, that is a very hostile act. The governor said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeyer's office would handle the effort, though the AG's team isn't offering any comment at the moment. Florida has previously tacked on state charges to federal cases, including recently for. What's your name? Ryan Ruth. Investigators say he tried to assassinate then candidate Trump in 2024 while he golfed in South Florida. Ruth was convicted on federal charges in September and faces sentencing next month. But what about Maduro? It's unclear the timeline for state charges. The expat is currently facing a federal indictment in New York. And though they disagree on how Maduro got here, some Democrats support the idea of a Sunshine State trial. I called on the Department of Justice to bring Maduro to Miami. Robin Poguero is one of them, a J6 prosecutor turned Democratic candidate for Congress who says a Florida prosecution specifically in Miami makes sense. This is a community that has seen, you know, the worst of the cocaine trade and the jury of his peers live here. This is where a predominant number of Venezuelan Americans live who fled that country because of how horribly he was running it. And so I think this is the place where we should hold Maduro to account. What are the next steps here? Well, that is likely going to depend on what happens up in New York where the federal indictment is. It could have some kind of impact on what types of charges the state of Florida might pursue. So this is one of those cases where we're going to have to wait and keep watching. That's the latest out here at the state Capitol. I'm Forrest Saunders reporting.

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