US judge weighs Trump decision to bar Venezuelan funds for Maduro’s defence

In a US court hearing on March 26, 2026, Judge Alvin Hellerstein declined to dismiss drug-trafficking and weapons charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. However, Hellerstein questioned the US government's decision to bar Venezuela from funding Maduro's legal defense, citing concerns about the right to counsel. Prosecutors argued national security and sanctions justified the ban, but the judge noted eased sanctions and Maduro's imprisonment diminished any security threat. Hellerstein emphasized the Sixth Amendment right to a vigorous defense for all criminal defendants in the US. Maduro, who led Venezuela from 2013 to 2026, faces multiple criminal counts, including narco-terrorism conspiracy.

Nicolas Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan president, made his second court appearance in New York after being captured by U.S. forces in January. The hearing addressed concerns about Maduro and his wife's ability to pay for legal representation without Venezuelan government assistance; the judge indicated the case would not be dismissed on those grounds. Maduro, who has been held in a Brooklyn jail for three months, pleaded not guilty to charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy and weapons possession. The U.S. operation that led to his capture deposed Maduro, who had led Venezuela since 2013, and has significantly increased U.S. influence over the country. During the hearing, Maduro wore a prison uniform and communicated with his lawyer through an interpreter.

Nicolás Maduro, the deposed Venezuelan president, appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday to face "narco-terrorism" charges following his capture by US military forces in January. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty. The hearing centered on a dispute over whether Maduro can use Venezuelan government funds to pay for his legal defense. The defense argues that blocking access to these funds violates Maduro's constitutional rights. The prosecution and defense presented their arguments regarding the use of Venezuelan government funds for Maduro's legal costs.