In brief
Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are fighting in court to use Venezuelan government money for their legal defense against charges of narco-terrorism. Despite a sympathetic judge, U.S. prosecutors argue that Maduro exploited Venezuela’s wealth and should not access those funds. As the couple awaited a ruling on the case, they appeared subdued, contrasting with Maduro’s earlier defiant courtroom persona. The ruling is set to clarify the legal handling of this contentious case, as both sides present their arguments surrounding Maduro's access to defense financing amid sanctions.
A judge appeared sympathetic on Thursday to legal arguments that ex-Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores should be allowed to use Venezuelan government money to fund their defence.
Maduro and Flores's attorneys asked the judge to dismiss the narco-terrorism case against the pair because the US has denied them use of the funds due to sanctions in place against the Latin American country.
Prosecutors argued Maduro plundered Venezuela's wealth and should not be able to use its money for legal fees.
The 92-year-old Judge Alvin Hellerstein noted that the right to defence is paramount and said he would not be dismissing the case over the dispute.
The judge said he would issue a ruling at a later time, including the next court date.
US forces seized Maduro and Flores from their compound in Caracas in a dramatic, night-time raid on January 3, bringing them to New York to face allegations of weapon and drug offences, which they deny.
On Thursday, wearing green khaki prison jumpsuits, Maduro and his wife sat quietly with several lawyers as they listened to a translation of the arguments through headphones.
The mood contrasted with their first court appearance when Maduro gave a speech lasting several minutes, claiming he had been kidnapped and was innocent.
Because the Maduros and the Venezuelan government are subject to US sanctions, they needed to obtain a licence to allow the government to pay their legal fees. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) initially granted that licence, then revoked it.
Prosecutors argued the Maduros should not be able to access government funds due to national security concerns and claimed they have personal funds available to pay for attorneys, which the Maduros deny.
Under US law, Maduro is entitled to a court-appointed lawyer if he cannot afford his own.
Judge Hellerstein appeared to side with Maduro lawyer’s argument that the case would be overwhelming for a public defender and could hamper the counsel provided.
The judge also questioned the logic behind the prosecution’s stance, suggesting the foreign policy situation had changed since the couple’s capture.
Maduro faces serious accusations, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and possession of weapons, and has yet to apply for bail while held in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. No trial date has been set.
Residents of Caracas are closely following the court developments, displaying a mix of hope and frustration about Maduro's fate amidst a politically charged environment.
