Maduro faces New York court in key hearing over legal defense
Prosecutors reject that argument and maintain that Maduro and Flores can use public defenders if they lack the resources to hire private attorneys
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appear on Thursday, March 26, before the Southern District Court of New York in a second hearing in the criminal case they face in the United States following their capture in January during a U.S. military operation.
Both pleaded not guilty at their initial appearance on January 5, just days after being detained in Caracas. Maduro faces four charges: three counts of conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, import cocaine, and possess weapons of war, and a fourth for direct possession of weaponry. Flores faces similar charges, including two counts of conspiracy to import cocaine and others related to weapons possession.
The central issue at Thursday’s hearing is a defense motion to dismiss the case. Lawyers for both defendants argue that sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) since 2015 block access to Venezuelan government funds that, under that country’s legislation, should cover their legal representation costs. The defense contends this situation violates the defendants’ constitutional right to counsel of their choice.
Prosecutors reject that argument and maintain that Maduro and Flores can use public defenders if they lack the resources to hire private attorneys. Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, must decide whether to accept the motion and dismiss the case, reject it, or propose a middle-ground solution.
The trial unfolds amid intense diplomatic activity between Caracas and Washington. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following Maduro’s capture, participated on Wednesday in the FII Priority investment forum in Miami, where she highlighted ongoing economic reforms and expressed gratitude for President Donald Trump’s willingness to build a bilateral agenda. A Venezuelan diplomatic delegation led by Félix Plasencia is traveling to Washington this week to establish a permanent presence.
Congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the former president’s son, said in a video posted on social media that his parents are in good condition. They are doing very well, strong, in good spirits, he stated, adding that his father exercises daily and that the hearing will serve to keep raising Venezuela’s truth.
The case is considered one of the most unusual legal proceedings in the history of relations between both countries, with implications that extend beyond the courtroom and into the complex geopolitical reconfiguration of the region.
