Nicolas Maduro returns to US court as lawyers fail to dismiss drug trafficking charges. American news
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has returned to court in New York, where his lawyers failed to get drug trafficking charges dismissed in a dispute over legal fees.
it was the first time Maduro, 63, and his wife, Celia Flores, 69, appeared in court. Since the January hearing in which he has denied all the allegations. Maduro did not say anything during the hearing.
he led Venezuela. From 2013 until his dramatic capture of Flores by US military forces on January 3 His home in Caracas was raided overnight.
Maduro is accused of working with drug cartels and members of the military to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tonnes of cocaine to the US, as well as ordering the kidnappings, beatings and murders of people who owed him drug money or undermined his smuggling operations.
If found guilty, he faces life imprisonment.
Before the hearing, people gathered outside the court in New York to protest for and against Maduro.
although the larger group were supporters of the former leader. There are also reports of a scuffle between the two groups.
Supporters of ousted President Nicolas Maduro protested outside a New York courtroom. Photo: Reuters
both are happening: detained in Brooklyn Detention Center And no one has asked to be released on bail. Judge Alvin Hellerstein has not yet set a trial date in the case.
Prosecutors have not yet revealed who will testify against Maduro, who is being represented by Barry Pollack, one of America’s most prominent defence lawyers.
The lawyer argued that the US was violating the ousted leader’s constitutional rights by blocking Venezuelan government funds to pay his legal costs.
Authorities are securing the court complex ahead of Maduro’s appearance. Photo: Reuters
Prosecutors have previously responded that the U.S. government had authorised Maduro and Flores to use personal funds to pay their legal fees, but Maduro said he was unable to defend himself.
Judge Hellerstein said he would decide at a future date whether to order the Trump administration to allow Venezuela to pay legal fees for Maduro and his wife.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has once again accused Maduro of being “the major supplier of drugs coming into our country”.
During his cabinet meeting on Thursday, the US president said Maduro would be given a “fair trial”. But he also said, “I think there are other tests coming,” without clarifying the comment.
Read more from Sky News:
Inside Maduro’s January court hearing
Maduro’s gross incompetence
Maduro and Flores enjoy some support in Venezuela, with murals and billboards in the capital Caracas calling for their return.
But while Maduro’s ruling party remains in power, they have been gradually ousted from the government of Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez.
