Jason Richman, head of the National Security Unit of the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the Southern District of New York, stepped down on September 25 without any known reasons for his departure, as reported by Bloomberg regarding the case against Nicolás Maduro.
The Federal Prosecutor of Manhattan, Jamie McDonald, informed Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein —who is overseeing the case— through a court document stating that the attorney "will no longer be employed by the United States Attorney's Office as of September 25, 2026."
Richman formally requested to be removed from the case and declined to make any statements, according to Bloomberg. There was also no information provided about his next professional destination.
Their departure occurs less than nine months before the start of the trial, scheduled for June 1, 2027, and represents a significant loss of experience for the prosecution in one of the most closely monitored criminal cases in recent years.
Richman was considered a key asset of the fiscal team due to his experience in high-profile narcoterrorism and national security cases, including those of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández and his brother Juan Antonio "Tony" Hernández, which were also processed in New York.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, face charges of narcoterrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and related weapons offenses. The original indictment dates back to 2020 and was updated following Maduro's capture in Caracas on January 3, 2026. Both pleaded not guilty in their first appearance before Judge Hellerstein.
The defense of Maduro, led by attorney Barry Pollack —known for representing Julian Assange in the WikiLeaks case— has attempted to halt the proceedings through claims of sovereign immunity, challenges regarding the legality of the arrest, and motions to dismiss. Judge Hellerstein rejected the motion to dismiss the case in March 2026, although the defense raised similar arguments again in September.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for November 17, 2026 to address those pending motions, including the claims of sovereign immunity.
Richman's departure raises several questions. The Prosecutor's Office will need to appoint another attorney with sufficient experience to take over the supervision of the case, although the learning curve in a case of this complexity is significant. The defense team might try to exploit the change as a sign of weakness or disorganization in the prosecution.
On her part, Cilia Flores has repeatedly requested bail citing heart problems and weight loss. The Prosecutor's Office has opposed each time, warning that she could spend the rest of her life in prison if convicted.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office for the Southern District of New York has a long tradition of handling high-profile international cases and typically absorbs personnel changes without the processes collapsing. However, analysts cited by Bloomberg warn that the prosecution team's ability to reorganize without losing momentum will be crucial for the development of the trial next year.
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