By Maribel Velazquez
The United States took an unexpected turn in its sanctions policy against Venezuela by authorizing the Caracas government to cover the legal fees of the Venezuelan defense team. Nicolas Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York.
The decision, revealed in court documents on April 25, represents a relevant change in the midst of a process that had been marked by legal and political tensions. According to information from the Reuters agency, this modification seeks to prevent the case from being compromised by questions about the accused’s right to an adequate defense.
Maduro, 63, was arrested on January 3 in Caracas during an operation by US special forces. Together with his wife, Cilia Floreswas transferred to New York, where Both face charges that include narcoterrorism conspiracy.. The couple has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody in Brooklyn awaiting trial.
The critical point arose in February, when the defense attorney Barry Pollack requested dismissal of the case. His central argument: the sanctions imposed by Washington prevented the Venezuelan government from paying for his representation, which, in his opinion, violated basic constitutional rights.
Pollack argued that blocking these payments limited his client’s right to choose a defense. “It is equivalent to a violation of constitutional law to have a lawyer of his choice,” he argued before the court.
The federal judge Alvin Hellersteinin charge of the case in New York, was skeptical of the restrictions. During a hearing in March, he made clear that he did not plan to scrap the process, but questioned whether the financial blockade was justified.
“The right at stake, paramount over others, is the right to constitutional legal assistance,” stated the judge, emphasizing that the accused, regardless of their nationality, have legal guarantees in the United States.
For its part, the prosecution defended the government’s initial position. Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued that The sanctions responded to national security interests and foreign policy, and maintained that the judiciary does not have the power to modify decisions of the Treasury Department.
However, the political context has also changed. Since Maduro’s departure from power, Relations between Washington and Caracas have shown signs of detenteparticularly under the interim leadership of Delcy Rodríguez.
This new scenario would have influenced the flexibility of sanctions, thus allowing due process to be guaranteed without legal interference.
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