Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Sunshine State is “very seriously” considering bringing state charges against Nicolás Maduro. DeSantis made the remarks following Maduro’s capture in a U.S. military operation and his first court appearance in New York. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, both pleaded not guilty to federal charges. JUST IN: Nicolas Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in First Court Appearance POLITICO explained further: DeSantis said he supported Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier potentially bringing a state case against Maduro as well, saying the state was reviewing its statutes. “He was obviously very involved with bringing drugs, particularly to Florida,” DeSantis said during a press conference in Clearwater, Florida, on Tuesday. “You know what he would also do? And this is not in the federal indictment in New York — 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.” DeSantis asserted that some border crossers had been members of the Tren de Aragua gang who’d been in prison, and he said that allowing them to cross into the U.S. constituted a “very hostile act.” The governor’s comments mirror those President Donald Trump made on the campaign trail, though intelligence agencies concluded last year that Maduro didn’t direct Tren de Aragua’s activities. When asked about whether DeSantis requested Trump’s blessing, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “As in prior administrations, the entire Trump Administration coordinated to arrest the head of a major narco-trafficking Foreign Terrorist Organization, who has long been a fugitive of American justice. Once again, President Trump‘s decisive leadership will result in peace in the world.” Watch DeSantis' comments from the press conference: ? BREAKING: Nicolas Maduro likely to face FLORIDA STATE-LEVEL CHARGES — Gov. Ron DeSantis says Maduro unleashed Tren de Aragua gang members DIRECTLY into Florida communities GOOD! MAXIMUM JUSTICE ?? pic.twitter.com/0kDFEPGim8 — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 6, 2026 "Dunno but I bet those odds will be different if/when Maduro faces state charges in Miami," DeSantis said, responding to an X post saying Maduro was no longer projected to be found guilty on all counts. Dunno but I bet those odds will be different if/when Maduro faces state charges in Miami. https://t.co/YZGtnEVtqj — Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 5, 2026 "Separate sovereigns. Double jeopardy doesn’t attach. So he can face both state and federal charges," DeSantis said in another post. Separate sovereigns. Double jeopardy doesn’t attach. So he can face both state and federal charges. https://t.co/nIsuR3Ud04 — Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 6, 2026 NBC 6 South Florida noted: He did not immediately provide details on what those charges could be, but said “we’ve had people in Florida that have been victimized” by Tren de Aragua, and that he would be supportive if Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed those charges.