Ben Keith publishes Op-Ed in Newsweek | What Will the US Courts Do With Nicolás Maduro?

On 21 January 2026, Newsweek published an incisive op-ed by Red Notice Monitor editor Ben Keith examining the unprecedented U.S. prosecution of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a New York federal court.

The piece was first published in Newsweek and can be read in full here. 

In this piece, Ben Keith unpacks the complex legal terrain surrounding the Maduro case – from narco-terrorism charges that span decades to the controversial circumstances of his capture and subsequent transfer to U.S. jurisdiction. Despite the political theatre and dramatic headlines, Ben argues that the legal mechanisms at play are far more conventional than the rhetoric suggests.

Key insights from the op-ed:

• The nature of the charges: The U.S. alleges Maduro and his close circle transformed the Venezuelan state into a platform for cocaine trafficking, partnering with designated terrorist groups and providing diplomatic cover to traffickers.
• Legal strategy over spectacle: With much evidence classified and insider testimony confidential, Ben suggests the proceedings are likely to hinge less on dramatic courtroom confrontations and more on legal negotiation and evidentiary strength.
• Immunity and jurisdiction: While Maduro’s defenders argue that head-of-state immunity and the method of his capture should bar prosecution, the op-ed explains why U.S. courts are likely to reject these defences.
• International and future implications: Beyond U.S. proceedings, Ben explores how extradition, universal jurisdiction claims, and ongoing international criminal investigations could influence Maduro’s legal fate.

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Image: Planet Volumes via Unsplash