Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a New York federal court for the second time since his dramatic capture by US forces, as legal disputes surrounding his defence continue to unfold.
Maduro, 63, has been held alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn for nearly three months following a controversial US military raid in Caracas earlier this year. The operation, which resulted in dozens of deaths, led to the removal of Maduro from power and a major shift in Venezuela’s political landscape.
He faces multiple charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons-related offences. At his initial court appearance, Maduro pleaded not guilty and described himself as a “prisoner of war,” maintaining his innocence.
Today’s hearing is expected to centre on a motion filed by Maduro’s legal team seeking dismissal of the case, citing restrictions on funding his defence.
His lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued in court filings that US sanctions preventing the Venezuelan government from paying legal fees violate Maduro’s constitutional right to representation.
“The license requirement infringes on his right to counsel,” Pollack said in submissions, insisting the case should be thrown out on procedural grounds.
US prosecutors, however, oppose the move, arguing it would be inappropriate to allow a sanctioned government to finance the defence.
Maduro is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a facility long criticised for harsh conditions. Reports indicate he is being held in isolation with limited communication, allowed only brief phone calls with family and legal representatives.
Despite the conditions, his son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, said his father remains resolute.
“The lawyers told us he is strong. He said we must not be sad… We are fine, we are fighters,” he said.
Back in Venezuela, leadership has shifted to interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who is steering the country through economic turmoil while implementing reforms aligned with US demands.
The country, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, is grappling with inflation and institutional restructuring amid renewed diplomatic engagement with Washington.
The case is being presided over by veteran US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, with heightened security expected around the courthouse ahead of the hearing.
If convicted, Maduro could face life imprisonment, marking a dramatic fall for the former strongman whose rule once dominated Venezuelan politics.
