How does US sanctions affect Venezuela’s ability to pay Maduro’s lawyer?

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US Sanctions Modification Allows Venezuela to Pay Nicolás Maduro's Defence Lawyer

The United States has agreed to modify its sanctions on Venezuela, specifically to permit the Venezuelan government to pay the legal fees for Nicolás Maduro's defence lawyer. This adjustment is a direct response to a restriction that had previously jeopardised the drug trafficking case against the former Venezuelan president. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were brought to New York in January to face charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy and had pleaded not guilty.
Defence Counsel Rights Threatened by Payment Restrictions

Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, had petitioned a US District Court in February to dismiss the case. The basis for this request was that existing US sanctions prevented the Venezuelan government from covering his client's legal expenses. Pollack argued that this prohibition constituted a violation of Maduro's constitutional right in the US to choose his own counsel, a right that extends to all criminal defendants regardless of citizenship.
Government Prepared to Fund Legal Defence

According to statements made by Maduro's legal team, neither Nicolás Maduro nor Cilia Flores possess the personal financial means to hire lawyers independently. Consequently, the Venezuelan government had expressed its readiness to bear the costs associated with their defence. This willingness to fund the legal fees highlighted the necessity of the sanctions modification to ensure continued legal representation.
Judicial Skepticism Regarding Sanctions' Impact

US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, while indicating in a March 26 court hearing that he did not intend to dismiss the case, expressed scepticism about the government's justification for blocking the payments. He noted that the US had, in fact, relaxed some sanctions on Venezuela since Maduro's removal from power and observed that relations between Caracas and Washington had improved. Hellerstein emphasised that Maduro and Flores posed no further national security threat and that the right to constitutional counsel was paramount.

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How does US sanctions affect Venezuela’s ability to pay Maduro’s lawyer?

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