Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York City court on Thursday, seeking to have a drug charge thrown out over a dispute about paying his legal fees.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both appeared in court, their first appearance since their January arraignments. They both pleaded not guilty to narcoterrorism charges.
They were captured by the United States in early January and removed from Venezuela. It came after months of continued escalation between the two countries over the flow of drugs coming into the United States.
The main focus of Thursday’s court appearance was focused on how Maduro’s lawyers were going to be paid.
The defense and prosecution argued over whether Maduro can use Venezuelan government funds for his defense fees. His attorney, Barry Pollack, argued that the U.S. is violating Maduro’s constitutional rights by blocking Venezuela’s government from paying for his legal battle, The Associated Press reported from the New York courtroom.
Pollack argued that if Maduro gets public defenders for the upcoming trial, it would use up resources that are intended to go to individuals who can’t afford their own attorneys. It doesn’t make sense to have the U.S. taxpayer funding the leader’s defense, he said.
Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba argued that Maduro using Venezuelan money for his defense undermines the U.S. sanctions on the country, which were placed on the country because of Maduro and his wife, the AP reported.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein seemed skeptical of their arguments, the AP noted. He questioned why Wirshba wanted to block Maduro from using Venezuelan funds still stands if relations between the U.S. and Venezuela have improved.
The prosecutor replied that even if the countries’ ties improved, the U.S. can still maintain its sanctions.
Hellerstein questioned whether Maduro even has the funds to be able to pay for his defense. Wirshba said they’re still investigating. It’s an ongoing issue about the legal mechanics of the U.S. allowing him to use Venezuelan government funds, the AP said.
By the end of Thursday’s hearing, it was still undecided. However, Hellerstein seemed skeptical of the prosecution’s argument. He noted that for Maduro and his wife, it is “paramount” that they have the right to be able to defend themselves, and that does not impact national security. Still, Hellerstein did not side with Maduro’s attorney in throwing out the case altogether.
The judge concluded the session and said he would rule at a later date about the matter of Maduro’s funding. Another hearing date will be set and eventually the trial start date would be set, too.
Trump addresses Maduro court hearing in cabinet meeting
Maduro was captured in an overnight U.S. military operation in January. President Donald Trump attributed destabilization in the hemisphere to Maduro working with foreign powers, including Iran.
Trump said Maduro was a “kingpin of a vast criminal network” that was responsible for trafficking in “colossal amounts” of drugs into the U.S.
Leading up to Maduro’s capture, the U.S. had been targeting boats off Venezuela’s coast, conducting strikes as part of the effort to stop fentanyl from entering the country.
The capture was conducted by FBI agents and Trump proudly celebrated that not one U.S. life was lost in the operation. At least 80 people were killed in the U.S. operation. Cuban state media confirmed that at least 32 Cubans were among the dead, which has led to heightened tensions between the Caribbean country and the U.S. in the months since.
During a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Trump shared that more charges could be coming for Maduro. Maduro was “a major purveyor of drugs coming into our country,” he said.
“And he’s now been captured, and I guess, being given a fair trial. But I would imagine there are other trials coming, because they have just — they’ve really sued him just on a fraction of the kind.of things that he’s done,” Trump continued. “Other cases are going to be broad, as you probably know.”