Maduro asks US court to drop drug trafficking charges
Photo: Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro (Getty Images)
Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is seeking to halt US court proceedings against him, citing blocked payments to his lawyer as the reason, according to Bloomberg.
According to the report, Maduro asked a federal court to dismiss drug trafficking charges against him, arguing that the US government is blocking funding for his legal defence from Venezuela.
On Thursday, Maduro’s lawyer Barry Pollack said in a court filing in New York that actions by the US Treasury had unconstitutionally interfered with Maduro’s right to counsel of his choice, adding that the alleged violation warrants dismissal of the case.
Background
The United States launched an operation on January 3 targeting Caracas, detaining Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transferring them to the US the same day.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, as well as illegal possession of automatic weapons and destructive devices, including alleged intent to use such weapons against the US.
The first court hearing in New York took place on January 5 and lasted about 30 minutes, during which Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty.
Although the next hearing is scheduled for March 17, the trial itself is not expected to begin before 2027. Bloomberg reported that the near-term process will focus on evidence disclosure and pre-trial procedures.
