U.S. Treasury Amends Sanctions for Maduro's Legal Fees

Federal prosecutors in New York announced late Friday that the U.S. Treasury Department has amended sanctions licenses to permit the Venezuelan government to pay legal fees for ousted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, resolving a dispute that had jeopardized their criminal case.

The decision ends a standoff in Manhattan federal court, where defense lawyers argued that U.S. restrictions violated the couple's constitutional right to counsel. Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, face charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation. They were arrested by U.S. special forces at their home in Caracas on January 3 and transported to New York, where they have pleaded not guilty and remain detained in a Brooklyn facility pending trial.

The case stems from allegations that Maduro and Flores participated in drug trafficking schemes to destabilize the U.S. and support criminal enterprises. Prosecutors informed U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in a court filing that the revised licenses allow payments from Venezuelan funds available after March 5, 2026, the date when the U.S. and Venezuela formally restored diplomatic relations. The conditions ensure...