Judge Questions Sanctions Blocking Maduro's Legal Fees Amid Drug Trafficking Case

• •Judge Hellerstein is reconsidering sanctions blocking Maduro's legal fee funding.
• •Maduro and Flores face serious charges but claim they lack funds for defense.
• •Prosecutors argue that allowing state funds would violate national security.

A US federal judge, Alvin Hellerstein, is reviewing sanctions that prevent Venezuela from funding former President Nicolás Maduro's legal defense in a drug trafficking case. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty to charges including drug trafficking and weapons offenses. The judge expressed concerns that the refusal to grant a special license by the Treasury Department could undermine Maduro's right to a fair trial. Prosecutors argue that allowing access to Venezuelan state funds would violate national security and foreign policy concerns. Maduro and Flores, currently in federal custody in New York, claim they lack personal funds for legal costs. The judge did not dismiss the case but indicated that the funding issue remains unresolved. The couple's legal representation is complicated by US sanctions against Venezuela. No trial date has been set yet.