Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores faced a second hearing before a court in New York after being arrested during a U.S. raid on the presidential complex in Caracas in January.
Maduro tried to convince a federal judge that the U.S. government is obstructing his ability to defend himself against charges of narco-terrorism, and that the case should be dismissed.
During the hearing, the former President of Venezuela and the First Lady sat at the defense table with translation headsets, occasionally taking notes. His lawyer, Barry Pollack, avoided answering questions about his condition during nearly three months of detention, stating only: “You will see him in the courtroom.” Responding to claims that Maduro suffers from anxiety attacks and shouts from his cell that he was kidnapped and is still the legitimate president, the lawyer said such claims “should not be given much weight.”
The prosecution, on the other hand, accused Maduro and Flores of having “plundered Venezuela’s wealth,” opposing the possibility that the state of Venezuela should cover their defense costs.
Maduro’s lawyer stated that the former president and his wife cannot pay their legal expenses on their own, and that the state should enable it, pointing to a “property interest” his client has in foreign funds.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who is presiding over the case, opposed the prosecution’s claims that the U.S. should use sanctions as a tool of foreign policy or national security, and repeatedly questioned whether there are other sources of funding for their defense.
At the end of the hearing, the judge announced that he will soon decide whether to order Donald Trump’s administration to allow Venezuela to pay the legal costs of Maduro and Flores, but emphasized that the case will not be dismissed on that basis.
Meanwhile, gatherings were taking place outside the court. Shortly before Maduro, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated at a cabinet meeting that new indictments would also be brought against him.
The ruling party in Venezuela expressed support for the former president and the First Lady, calling for the protection of their “legitimate rights,” while his supporters gathered at Bolívar Square in Caracas, demanding their release from U.S. detention.
On the other hand, some demonstrators outside the court said they expect Maduro to be punished, stating that they are offended by calls for his release.
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Source: CNN, Foto: Printscreen Youtube