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Maduro Makes Second Court Appearance in US
Judge questions why the US is blocking him from paying for defense with Venezuelan funds
Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:15am
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Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan leader, reappeared in a Manhattan courtroom for a pretrial hearing on his narco-terrorism case. The judge refused to throw out the case but questioned whether US sanctions should keep Maduro from using Venezuelan state funds to pay his lawyers. Maduro's attorney argued that court-appointed counsel would struggle with the "great expense" of the case, while prosecutors argued Maduro has no claim to Venezuela's money.
Why it matters
Maduro's case highlights the ongoing political and legal tensions between the US and Venezuela, as well as the challenges of navigating sanctions and access to state funds for the legal defense of foreign leaders accused of crimes.
The details
During the hearing, Maduro's attorney, Barry Pollack, argued that the inability to access state funds interfered with Maduro's right to have a lawyer of his choosing. Prosecutors, however, argued that allowing Maduro to access the funds would undermine sanctions, though the judge questioned whether the sanctions argument is still valid given the warming of US-Venezuela relations. Maduro has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
- The pretrial hearing was Maduro's second court appearance since he was seized in a January 3 US raid on Caracas.
- Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both pleaded not guilty in their first court appearance in January.
The players
Nicolás Maduro
The ousted Venezuelan leader, who is jailed and facing narco-terrorism charges in the US.
Alvin Hellerstein
The US District Judge presiding over Maduro's case.
Barry Pollack
Maduro's attorney, who has previously represented Julian Assange.
Cilia Flores
Maduro's wife, who is also facing charges in the US.
Donald Trump
The US President, who said he hopes Maduro will face more charges.
What they’re saying
“I understand that the government of Venezuela is prepared to fund my legal defense and it is my expectation that it will. I have relied on this expectation and cannot afford to pay for my own legal defense.”
— Nicolás Maduro
“He emptied his prisons into our country and was a major purveyor of drugs coming into our country. I would imagine there are other trials coming.”
— Donald Trump, President
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow Maduro to use Venezuelan state funds to pay for his legal defense.
The takeaway
Maduro's case highlights the ongoing political and legal tensions between the US and Venezuela, as well as the challenges of navigating sanctions and access to state funds for the legal defense of foreign leaders accused of crimes. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for US-Venezuela relations and the ability of foreign leaders to mount a legal defense in US courts.
