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Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has asked a U.S. federal judge to dismiss the drug trafficking charges against him, arguing that U.S. sanctions have unfairly interfered with his right to legal representation. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty on January 5 to charges that could result in decades behind bars if convicted. The couple is currently detained in New York as they await trial.
The motion to dismiss was filed Thursday by Maduro’s defense attorney, Barry Pollack, who claims the U.S. government obstructed Maduro’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel. According to court filings, the U.S. Treasury Department initially granted a sanctions exemption on January 9 that would have allowed the Venezuelan government to cover Maduro’s legal fees. However, that authorization was reportedly revoked just hours later without explanation.
Pollack argues that blocking payment for legal services has made it impossible for him to continue representing the former Venezuelan leader. He maintains that the sudden reversal undermines Maduro’s constitutional rights and warrants dismissal of the high-profile criminal case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting the case, has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
Maduro and Flores were captured on January 3 during a nighttime operation in Caracas conducted by U.S. special forces. The arrest followed months of diplomatic and political pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which had accused Maduro of corruption and ties to international drug trafficking networks.
Federal prosecutors allege that during his 13-year rule, Maduro used his position of power to assist drug traffickers and facilitate narcotics operations linked to the United States. The outcome of the case could have significant political and legal implications, both for U.S.-Venezuela relations and for international drug enforcement efforts.
