US to Cover Venezuelas Government Costs for Maduros Lawyer Fees

US Eases Sanctions on Venezuela in Exchange for Maduro’s Legal Fees

A US District Judge has agreed to modify sanctions on Venezuela to allow the country’s government to cover ex-president Nicolas Maduro’s legal fees. The decision comes after Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, requested that the case be thrown out due to a prohibition on the Venezuelan government paying his client’s defense costs.

In a court filing, US Department of Justice lawyers stated that the change makes the defense’s motion to dismiss the case “moot”. This development marks an update in the ongoing trial, which has raised several legal questions regarding Maduro’s status as former head of state and his abduction by US forces.

The Trump administration maintains that the operation was a law enforcement action supported by the military. However, critics have condemned the proceedings as illegitimate, citing the extraordinary military operation to abduct Maduro and his wife from Venezuela.

Under international law, sitting world leaders are typically granted immunity from foreign national courts. After being taken into US custody, Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty and remain jailed in Brooklyn, New York. Maduro has rejected the US charges, claiming they are a pretext for seizing control of Venezuela’s natural resources.

The trial continues with Maduro facing drug trafficking charges. The court has previously questioned whether the sanctions preventing the Venezuelan government from covering Maduro’s legal fees were a violation of constitutional rights.

Source: Al Jazeera