US Revokes Permission for Venezuela to Fund Nicolás Maduro's Legal Defense

The US Treasury Department initially allowed Venezuela to pay legal fees for former President Nicolás Maduro's defense in his New York drug trafficking case but revoked the permission hours later without explanation, according to Maduro's lawyer Barry Pollack. Pollack argues this blocks Maduro's constitutional right to counsel, as Venezuelan law requires the government to cover such expenses. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who also faces charges, have pleaded not guilty. Venezuela is currently led by Delcy Rodríguez following Maduro's capture in a US operation.