US judge weighs Trump decision to bar Venezuelan funds for Maduro’s defence

A United States judge, Alvin Hellerstein, has declined to dismiss drug-trafficking and weapons charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. However, during a hearing in New York, the judge questioned the US government's authority to block Venezuela from funding Maduro's legal expenses. Maduro and Flores were taken into US custody on January 3, 2026, following a US military operation in Venezuela. Prosecutors argue national security and sanctions justify the funding ban, but Hellerstein noted that Maduro, currently imprisoned, poses no immediate security threat and emphasized the constitutional right to a vigorous defense under the Sixth Amendment. Former President Donald Trump has suggested further charges may be brought, while Maduro's legal team argues the funding block interferes with his right to counsel.