Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is set to appear in a New York court on Thursday, March 27, for the second time since his capture by US forces in January. Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores have been held in a Brooklyn jail for almost three months, facing charges of “narco-terrorism” conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Maduro has pleaded not guilty and declared himself a “prisoner of war.” His lawyer, Barry Pollack, is pushing to dismiss the case, citing issues with US sanctions preventing Venezuela’s government from covering Maduro’s legal fees.
The hearing, presided over by Judge Alvin Hellerstein, may see Maduro’s lawyers argue over who will pay his legal fees. Maduro is reportedly holding up in jail, reading the Bible, and communicating with family and lawyers via 15-minute phone calls.
The Venezuelan government, now led by Delcy Rodriguez, has enacted reforms and freed political prisoners amidst US pressure. The US has restored diplomatic ties with Venezuela, and security is expected to be heightened around the New York courthouse for Thursday’s hearing.
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