Hillbilly wisdom: there is a chance the head of state immunity defense for Maduro will work in November. Head of state immunity is the same reasoning Trump advances to explain why he cannot be charged for crimes in the international court. A head of state cannot be prosecuted in a foreign jurisdiction while in office. Trump needs this precedence now. The problem is: prosecution can proceed after the executive leaves office.

Rodriguez, acting president of Venezuela, recognizes Maduro as the Venezuelan President. If President Trump needs President Maduro to sign the oil deal, then he cannot be charged with crimes in the United States. Does Delcy Rodriguez, a non elected acting president, have the authority to legally make international deals without an election to validate her position? Given the less than 100% approval of Rodriguez, could she even get elected?

If Maduro can be prosecuted because he is not the head of state, this becomes a precedent for after Trump leaves office.