- A 92-year-old federal judge is set to decide if the US government is unlawfully blocking funds for the legal defense of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
- Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan leader, and Flores are currently detained in New York, facing charges related to a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation, to which they have pleaded not guilty.
- Their lawyers contend they should be permitted to use Venezuelan government funds for their defense, but federal prosecutors argue that national security and foreign policy interests prevent the US from lifting sanctions.
- Judge Alvin Hellerstein questioned the prosecution's national security claims, suggesting the US government's actions could interfere with the couple's constitutional right to a defense, especially given the changed situation in Venezuela following Trump's pressure campaign.
- While rejecting an immediate dismissal of the case, the judge indicated he might dismiss the indictment if a specific license to access funds is arbitrarily withheld, acknowledging the complexity and unique nature of the proceedings.
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