Maduro’s lawyer says the US is blocking the Venezuelan government from paying the ousted leader

The Trump administration is blocking the Venezuelan government from paying the expenses of the former president of Venezuela This is Nicolas Maduro’s place to defend himself against drug-trafficking charges in New York, a move that would interfere with his constitutional right to counsel, his attorney said.

Attorney Barry Pollack told a Manhattan federal judge in a February 20 email that the US Treasury Department blocked the authorization of legal fees that the Venezuelan government must pay Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores under its law and custom. The email was entered into the public court record on Wednesday.

Maduro and his wife have been in prison in New York without bail since they were taken from their home in Venezuela Jan. 3 during a sneak attack by the US military. They have both he pleaded not guilty. Maduro is scheduled to return to federal court for a trial on March 17.

In an email, Pollack said the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers sanctions against Venezuela, gave approval on Jan. 9 authorizing the payment of legal fees by the Venezuelan government.

However, less than three hours later, the Trump administration revoked the authorization “without explanation,” although it left a license allowing Maduro’s wife’s lawyers to be paid, Pollack said.

The dispute over Maduro’s legal fees is closely linked to US foreign policy. The first Trump administration severed relations with Maduro in 2019, recognizing the head of the National Assembly at the time as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. The Biden administration is close to a similar policy.

Messages seeking comment from the Treasury Department, the White House and the Justice Department were not immediately returned.

To allow the government to replace Maduro, Delcy Rodríguezhis vice president and now Venezuela’s acting president, paying Maduro’s defense costs could complicate prosecutors’ efforts in court to counter the ousted leader’s argument that his capture was illegal and that as a foreign head of state he cannot be prosecuted under US and international law.

Pollack said he asked the Office of Foreign Export Control on February 11 to restore the original license and clear the way for Venezuela to meet its obligation to pay Maduro’s defense costs.

“The government of Venezuela is responsible for paying Mr. Maduro’s fees, Mr. Maduro legitimately expects the government of Venezuela to do so, and Mr. Maduro cannot afford the advice,” Pollack wrote in the letter.

Pollack said the US is “impeding the ability of Mr.

A 25-page indictment against Maduro He sued him and others of working with drug cartels and members of the military to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the US Both he and his wife face up to life in prison if convicted.

As part of this alleged conspiracy, Maduro and his wife ordered the kidnapping, beating and killing of those who owed them drug money, according to the lawsuit. It said that includes the killing of a drug lord in the Caracas area.

This is Maduro’s place amazing capture following a months-long military buildup in the Caribbean paved the way for the Trump administration to exert greater influence over Rodriguez.

Under pressure from the US, Rodriguez moved quickly to open Venezuela’s oil industry to American investmentfor free political prisoners and renew direct communication with Washington – something not seen since the first Trump administration closed the US embassy in Caracas in 2019. President Trump said Tuesday The US had received more than 80 million barrels of oil from its “new friend and partner” Venezuela.