March 27, 2026
Judge May Reconsider Dismissing Maduro’s Case Due to US Blocking His Legal Funds
While affirming that the right to present a defense is “paramount,” the judge refused to dismiss the case — for now.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein refused to dismiss drug trafficking charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores on March 26, even though the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is blocking funds for their legal defense, in violation of the Sixth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
But Hellerstein reserved the right to revisit the issue in the future if he determines that OFAC is arbitrarily obstructing the money for Maduro’s counsel of choice.
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