{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1636763,
        "msgid": "maduro-files-lawsuit-to-cancel-narco-terrorism-charges-1774529480",
        "date": "2026-03-26 18:33:25",
        "title": "Maduro files lawsuit to cancel narco-terrorism charges",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is set to request a US federal judge to dismiss narco-terrorism charges against him and his wife Cilia Flores, arguing that US sanctions have impeded his ability to mount a legal defence. His lawyer claims that the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control initially approved but later revoked permission for Venezuela to pay legal fees, severely limiting access to funds despite Maduro's right to counsel. Maduro also plans to challenge the legality of his arrest and assert presidential immunity, as he and his wife remain detained in New York following a US military operation in Caracas.",
        "content": "<p>Istanbul (ANTARA) - Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is\nscheduled on Thursday (26\/3) to ask a US federal judge to dismiss the\nnarco-terrorism charges, claiming that Washington has hindered his\nability to build a legal defence, according to a US media report. Judge\nAlvin Hellerstein had previously scheduled a hearing to allow Maduro\u2019s\nlawyers and his wife, Cilia Flores, to review evidence, prepare\npre-trial motions, and potentially set a trial schedule. In that\nhearing, Maduro is expected to seek dismissal of the case amid a dispute\nover legal fees, as his lawyer, Barry Pollack, cannot receive payments\nfrom Venezuela without a US sanctions exemption, which has not yet been\ngranted. Pollack stated that the US Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office\nof Foreign Assets Control had initially approved but then revoked\npermission allowing Venezuela to pay his legal fees. He added that due\nto US sanctions against Maduro and the Venezuelan government, such\npayments require official authorisation. Prosecutors stated that the\npermission was granted in error and subsequently revoked, adding that\nMaduro and his wife can still use their personal funds in Venezuela to\ncover legal costs. The lawyers noted that Maduro\u2019s opportunities to\naccess defence funds are highly limited, although he is entitled to\ncourt-appointed counsel, while he and his wife deny the drug and weapons\ncharges during their detention in the US. Pollack also said he would\nchallenge the legality of Maduro\u2019s arrest and argue that he has immunity\nfrom prosecution, as the alleged violations occurred while he was still\nserving as president. Maduro and his wife remain detained in a federal\nfacility in New York after their arrest on 3 January in a US military\noperation in Caracas, followed by charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine\ntrafficking. Source: Anadolu<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maduro-files-lawsuit-to-cancel-narco-terrorism-charges-1774529480",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}