US Judge Weighs Trumps Decision on Venezuela Funds for Maduros Defence

US Judge Refuses to Dismiss Charges Against Maduro, Questions Prosecution on Defence Funding

A US District Court judge, Alvin Hellerstein, has ruled that he will not dismiss the charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The decision comes after a Thursday court hearing, where Hellerstein questioned the prosecution’s stance on allowing Venezuela to fund Maduro’s legal expenses.

Maduro and Flores had sought to have the charges against them thrown out, citing issues with the US government’s refusal to allow Venezuela to finance their defence. Federal prosecutors argued that national security concerns prevented such payments, while also referencing ongoing sanctions against the Venezuelan government.

However, Hellerstein pressed back on this argument, noting that President Donald Trump had eased sanctions against Venezuela since Maduro’s abduction on January 3. The judge also questioned how Maduro might pose a security threat while imprisoned in New York, stating that “the defendant is here” and “Flores is here. They present no further national security threat.”

Hellerstein emphasized the importance of a vigorous defence for all criminal defendants, as guaranteed by the US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment. He noted that the right to constitutional counsel is paramount over other rights.

Maduro faces four criminal counts, including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy and possession of machine guns. The former Venezuelan President was taken into US custody on January 3, following a military operation launched by the Trump administration. Maduro has cited his status as leader of a foreign country as part of his push to see the case dismissed.

In an interview, Maduro’s son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, expressed concerns about the trial, stating that it has “vestiges of illegitimacy from the start.” Protests and counterprotests took place outside the New York City courthouse on Thursday, with some condemning the US actions and others supporting the trial.

Source: Al Jazeera