US Blocks Venezuelan Government from Covering Maduro's Drug Case Defense

A lawyer for deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has claimed that the United States is blocking the Venezuelan government from paying for his legal defense in a federal drug trafficking case, arguing that the move interferes with his constitutional right to counsel.

The allegation was made by attorney Barry Pollack in a letter dated February 20 and entered into the public record on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. Pollack addressed the letter to U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who is overseeing the case. He stated that the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) initially granted a license on January 9 allowing Venezuela to pay legal fees for Maduro and his wife, co-accused Cilia Flores, under Venezuelan law and custom that obligates the government to cover such expenses for the president and first lady. However, the authorization was revoked just hours later without explanation, while permission for Flores' counsel remained in place.

Maduro, who has pleaded not guilty to charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and conspiracy, was reportedly seized by U.S. forces in early January and brought to the United States following the collapse of his government amid political turmoil. He has described himself as a "prisoner of war" and rejected the court's authority, claiming his transfer amounted to abduction rather than lawful arrest. Pollack argued that Maduro lacks personal resources to afford counsel and that the government's obligation to fund his defense is a legitimate expectation under Venezuelan practice.

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The U.S. has long imposed sanctions on Venezuela, including on Maduro since 2017, as part of efforts to pressure his administration over issues such as corruption, human rights abuses, and alleged drug trafficking ties involving high-level officials. These measures restrict financial transactions and require licenses for certain payments involving sanctioned entities or individuals. Pollack contended that by denying the payment license, OFAC is infringing on Maduro's Sixth Amendment right to counsel of his choice, potentially forcing him to proceed without adequate representation.

The development highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas, even after Maduro's ouster, as the U.S. continues to enforce sanctions and pursue legal accountability for alleged crimes. No immediate response from the Treasury Department or prosecutors has been detailed in court filings regarding the revocation. The case remains active in federal court, with Maduro's defense team indicating possible further action to challenge the funding block.

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