Prosecutors have pushed back, saying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, can use personal funds but not money tied to Venezuela’s sanctioned government.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro returned to a New York courtroom Thursday as he seeks to have his drug trafficking case dismissed, arguing a dispute over legal fees is violating his constitutional rights.
Maduro’s attorney says the U.S. government is improperly blocking Venezuelan state funds from being used to pay for his defense. Prosecutors have pushed back, saying Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, can use personal funds but not money tied to Venezuela’s sanctioned government.It marked the first time Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, have appeared in court since their January arraignment. At that hearing, Maduro protested his capture by U.S. forces and declared: "I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country." Flores has also pleaded not guilty.Both remain jailed at a federal detention center in Brooklyn and have not requested bail. A trial date has not yet been set.Maduro and Flores were arrested Jan. 3 during a pre-dawn raid at their home in Caracas. A federal indictment accuses them of working with drug cartels and members of the Venezuelan military to ship large quantities of cocaine into the United States.Prosecutors also allege the couple ordered kidnappings, beatings and killings tied to the operation, including the murder of a drug trafficker in Caracas. If convicted, they could face life in prison.In court filings, Maduro argued he is entitled to have the Venezuelan government cover his legal costs. His lawyer said the U.S. Treasury Department initially approved that arrangement before reversing course within hours.Prosecutors said authorities have allowed Maduro to use personal funds for his defense but would not permit access to money controlled by a sanctioned government.Meanwhile, Maduro’s political influence in Venezuela appears to be fading. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has replaced key officials loyal to him, reshaped government agencies and restored diplomatic relations with the United States.Still, Maduro retains some support in the country, where murals and billboards in Caracas call for his return.For many Venezuelans, however, daily life remains largely unchanged. Wages remain low, and inflation continues to drive up the cost of basic goods.
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