NEW YORK – A U.S. federal judge has declined to dismiss the criminal case against Nicolás Maduro, keeping the high-profile narcoterrorism prosecution moving forward while postponing a key decision on how his legal defense will be financed.
During a court hearing in New York this week, the judge made clear that the case would proceed, rejecting arguments from Maduro’s legal team that the charges should be thrown out. Alvin Hellerstein instead delayed ruling on a separate but critical issue: whether the Venezuelan state can pay for Maduro’s legal defense.
Maduro’s lawyers argue that U.S. sanctions are preventing them from accessing funds needed to hire counsel of their choice, raising concerns about his right to a fair trial. Prosecutors, however, oppose allowing Venezuelan state funds to be used, arguing that such resources may be linked to corruption and should remain restricted under sanctions policy.
The case is part of a long-running U.S. indictment accusing Maduro and senior figures of involvement in a narcoterrorism conspiracy, including cocaine trafficking to the United States and the use of weapons to support those operations.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who have both pleaded not guilty, were returned to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn following the hearing, where they remain in custody under strict conditions.
The dispute over legal funding has become a central issue in the proceedings. While the defense insists sanctions effectively block Maduro from mounting an adequate defense, prosecutors maintain that court-appointed attorneys are sufficient and that sanctions should not be bypassed.
For now, the trial will continue, with no immediate relief for Maduro. The next phase of the case is expected to focus heavily on resolving the funding dispute, which could have broader implications for how sanctioned individuals defend themselves in U.S. courts.