United States Blocks Venezuelan Government From Paying Legal Fees Of Nicolas Maduro And His Wife.

New York; February 2026: The United States is blocking the Venezuelan government from paying for Nicolas Maduro’s legal representation in the drug trafficking case he faces in New York, the deposed Venezuelan president’s defence lawyer said on 25th February 2026. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores both pleaded not guilty on January 05th to drug trafficking charges that could land them in US prison for decades. They are jailed in New York awaiting trial.

In a letter addressed to US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who is overseeing Maduro’s case, defence lawyer Barry Pollack said the Treasury Department on January 09th granted an exception to US financial sanctions on Venezuela allowing the South American country’s government to pay Maduro’s fees, but revoked that permission hours later without explanation. Pollack said “Venezuelan law and custom” dictate that the government pays the expenses of the President and First Lady.

“The government of Venezuela has an obligation to pay Mr. Maduro’s fees, Mr. Maduro has a legitimate expectation that the government of Venezuela would do so, and Mr. Maduro cannot otherwise afford counsel,” Pollack wrote in a letter dated February 20th but was made public yesterday.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan US Attorney’s office, which brought the case, declined to comment. The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The dispute over Maduro’s legal fees is intimately linked to US foreign policy. The first Trump administration had detached ties with Maduro in 2019, recognising the then opposition head of the National Assembly as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. The Biden administration hewed closely to the same policy. However, allowing Rodriguez’s government to pay for the cost of Maduro’s defence could complicate prosecutors’ efforts in court to counter the deposed leader’s argument that his capture was illegal and that as the foreign head of a state he is immune from prosecution under US and international law.

A 25-page indictment against Maduro accused him and others of working with drug cartels and members of the military to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the US Both he and his wife face life in prison if convicted. As part of the purported conspiracy, Maduro and his wife allegedly ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money, according to the indictment. It said that included the killing of a local drug boss in Caracas.

US special forces captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a dramatic nighttime raid in Caracas on January 03rd, following months of pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration on the socialist leader to step down. Prosecutors say Maduro abused his power to help drug traffickers throughout his 13-year tenure.

Since Maduro’s capture, his former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been running Venezuela. Maduro said in his 05th January court appearance that he was still the country’s legitimate president.

Pollack said Flores could still receive government funds for her legal fees. Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pollack is best known for representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to obtain and disclose classified defence information.

Team Maverick.