NEW YORK – The United States has agreed to modify sanctions on Venezuela to allow the Venezuelan government to pay the legal defense costs of former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in their ongoing criminal case in New York.
The move marks a procedural victory for Maduro’s defense team, but it does not affect the criminal charges against him.
According to U.S. court filings, the sanctions adjustment removes a legal obstacle that Maduro’s lawyers had argued violated his constitutional right to legal representation.
Maduro’s attorney had previously argued that U.S. sanctions prevented the Venezuelan state from covering his legal fees, effectively limiting his ability to mount a defense. That argument had raised concerns in federal court, where Judge Alvin Hellerstein questioned whether blocking legal payments could create constitutional issues.
The U.S. government has now agreed to adjust those sanctions to allow payment under specific legal conditions, removing one of the defense’s strongest procedural arguments for seeking dismissal of the case.
Legal analysts say the decision strengthens the prosecution’s position because it reduces the risk of the case being challenged on constitutional grounds.
Maduro and Flores continue to face serious criminal charges in the United States, including narcoterrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking and weapons-related offenses.
Both have pleaded not guilty.
The case stems from longstanding U.S. indictments tied to alleged cocaine trafficking networks involving senior Venezuelan officials.
Maduro was brought to the United States earlier this year and remains in custody while awaiting trial.
The sanctions adjustment does not alter the substance of the charges or the court process.
Instead, it clears the way for the case to proceed without further delays linked to legal funding disputes.
For Maduro, the development is seen as a legal win in process, not in substance.
For prosecutors, it removes a potential procedural vulnerability.
The trial now continues with both sides preparing for what is expected to be one of the most closely watched international criminal cases involving a former Latin American head of state.