Former Venezuelan narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom Thursday, seeking to dismiss his drug trafficking and narco-terrorism indictment over alleged inability to afford an attorney. The hearing took place in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were represented by defense attorney Barry Pollack. The former Venezuelan leader was captured during a U.S. military operation in January.
Pollack argued that U.S. sanctions against Maduro prevent him from affording legal fees and could force reliance on public defenders. “He is entitled to use those resources to defend himself,” Pollack asserted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Wirshba countered: “The defendants have a right to defend themselves with money that is lawfully theirs, they do not have the ability to access third party funds.” Wirshba added, “If the purpose of the sanctions is because the defendants are plundering the wealth of Venezuela, it would undermine the sanctions to allow them access to the same funds now to pay for their defense.”
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied Maduro’s motion for dismissal but adjourned the hearing without ruling on whether the former dictator and his wife could access sanctioned resources to cover legal costs or petition the current Venezuelan government for financial assistance.
