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Pro-Maduro protesters bring support, and signs, outside federal courthouse
Several dozen pro-Maduro protesters gathered across the federal courthouse on Worth Street, hours before the ousted leader is scheduled to appear before Judge Alvin Hellerstein later today. Many waved Venezuelan flags, banged on drums and held signs demanding the release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The protesters are loud, but they are outnumbered by TV cameras and press.
Nicolás Maduro, ousted Venezuelan president in U.S. custody, back in court
Scene outside U.S. District Court in Lower Manhattan. Credit: Michael O’Keefe/Newsday
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are due in court Thursday morning for a possible resolution over how they will pay for their defense against charges they facilitated a massive and violent drug ring smuggling large amounts of cocaine into the United States.
Barry Pollack, lawyer for the former South American strongman, asked District Court Judge Alfred Hellerstein in February to drop the narco-terrorism charges after the American government blocked the Venezuelan government from paying his legal fees.
Maduro was the contested leader of the country until Jan. 3 when American special forces captured him and his wife in an early morning raid.
The U.S. military flew the couple to Brooklyn, where they were held in the Metropolitan Detention Center until their first appearance in Manhattan Federal Court the next day.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to a four-count indictment of narco-terrorism and drug smuggling conspiracies and weapons charges.
“I am innocent,” he said. “I’m a decent man. I am president of my country.”
The next day, Delcy Rodriguez, the country’s vice president, took over as acting president.
Under Venezuelan law, the country is obliged to pay for Maduro’s legal fees, Pollack said. But due to President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking funds from the country, he cannot be paid.
“The interference by the United States government with the payment of fees by the government of Venezuela and costs associated with activities necessary to the defense will impede Mr. Maduro from having a full and fair defense against the charges,” Pollack said in his motion to dismiss.
He added, “Any trial that proceeds under these circumstances will be constitutionally defective and cannot result in a verdict that will withstand later challenge.”
Prosecutors have opposed the motion.