Maduro lawyer claims US blocking Venezuela from paying fees

Maduro, who autocratically ruled Venezuela from March 2013, was ousted as president in a January 3 raid by the United States.

Maduro, 63, has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges and declared that he was a "prisoner of war."

Pollack said that the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, responsible for enforcing sanctions, initially granted licenses on January 9 allowing him to take payment for representing Maduro and his wife, co-accused Cilia Flores.

But three hours later, OFAC issued an amended license that blocked the attorney taking payment for the former president, Pollack said.  

"By its failure to allow the government of Venezuela to pay Mr Maduro's defense costs, OFAC is interfering with Mr Maduro's ability to retain counsel and, therefore, his right under the Sixth Amendment to counsel of his choice," Pollack said in a letter to the court dated February 20.

The lawyer said his team had lodged a challenge with OFAC and that if it failed to act, he would formally complain to the court, noting that Maduro "cannot otherwise afford counsel."

His next scheduled court appearance is March 26 when he is due before a judge along with his wife who has also pleaded not guilty.

Venezuela is now led by Delcy Rodriguez, who had been Maduro's vice president since 2018 but is now working closely with Washington.

gw/dw