US Judge Shows Sympathy Regarding Use of State Funds for Defence in Maduro Trial
US Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein has shown signals of sympathy towards the legal arguments presented by former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple is seeking permission to use Venezuelan government funds to finance their legal defence in the ongoing narcoterrorism case in New York.
During the hearing held on Thursday local time, Maduro’s lawyer requested the judge to dismiss the charges because the US government has blocked access to those funds due to economic sanctions. Although Judge Hellerstein affirmed that he would not dismiss the case, he underlined that “the right to defence is paramount.”
Prosecutors argued that Maduro had “plundered” Venezuela’s wealth and should not use state money to pay for private lawyers. However, Maduro’s legal counsel, Barry Pollack, contended that the complexity of this international case would be highly burdensome if handled by a public defender.
Judge Hellerstein appeared to be considering those arguments. He questioned the prosecutors’ logic in maintaining strict sanctions even though the political landscape has changed following Maduro’s arrest on 3 January. “We are building relations with Venezuela,” the judge stated, referring to the restoration of diplomatic ties under Delcy Rodríguez’s leadership.
Wearing a khaki green prison uniform, Maduro and Flores sat calmly listening to the arguments through headphones. This atmosphere contrasted sharply with their initial appearance, where Maduro had delivered a fiery speech denouncing his arrest as a kidnapping.
Currently, the couple is detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn without bail. Maduro faces a series of serious charges, ranging from narcoterrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation to possession of machine guns.
In Caracas, the public is following these developments with mixed feelings. Ana Patricia, 72, a retired lawyer, expressed her hope that justice will be served. “He is someone who had everything but lost it due to greed and a huge ego. I hope he receives a life sentence. He must pay for his crimes,” she told the BBC.
In contrast, Agustina Parra, 67, a retired nurse, still believes in the innocence of the former president. “My president, Maduro, will be freed. Despite his shortcomings, he was not a bad president. He knows he is innocent and will prove it,” she said.
To date, the trial schedule has not been set. Meanwhile, in Washington, President Donald Trump stated that the US is considering filing additional charges but guaranteed that Maduro would receive a “fair trial.”