Nicolas Maduro's legal defense funding blocked by US, lawyer says
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration is blocking Venezuela’s government from paying for Nicolás Maduro’s legal defense against drug trafficking charges in New York, potentially infringing on his constitutional right to counsel, according to Maduro’s attorney Barry Pollack.
- The U.S. Treasury Department initially approved the payment of legal fees on January 9 but revoked the authorization within hours without explanation, while still allowing payments for Maduro’s wife’s lawyers.
- Maduro and his wife have been held without bail since their capture in a U.S. military raid on January 3, facing charges related to drug trafficking and violent crimes, with both pleading not guilty.
- The dispute over legal fees is tied to U.S. foreign policy, as the U.S. has recognized opposition leaders
