This Thursday, the appearance of the former president of Venezuela took place, as planned, before the New York court, within the framework of a judicial process that is expected to long and quite complex.
The hearing, in which cameras or recorders were not allowed, began about 45 minutes late and one of the main keys on this day has been Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s rejection92 years old, at the request of the defense of Maduro and his wife, to dismiss the case.
He has also acknowledged that he does not consider the former Venezuelan leader or Flores as “a national security threat”, since both are in US custody.
In addition, most of the appearance, which lasted about 90 minutes in total, focused on how US sanctions are affecting Maduro and Flores—who were dressed in their khaki prison uniforms—and They have asked that the Venezuelan government pay their legal fees.
Something that the courts seem to have endorsed due to the case “extraordinary” and the resources needed for the process, although the prosecutor’s office has criticized that Maduro “looted” Venezuela’s wealth and therefore they should not be able to use this money.
One of the main differences with respect to the Venezuelan’s first appearance is that on this occasion the former president did not want to give a speech or speak, but instead chose to listen to the interventions through headphones and He has remained silent with his wife. Nor has anyone from the public been heard shouting anything.
For now, the date for the trial is unknown. Meanwhile, both Maduro and his wife have been taken back to the prison where they were being held. Both have been accused of narcoterrorism and other weapons-related crimes, charges to which they have pleaded not guilty.
It should be noted that, just a few moments before this hearing was held, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that they will file other charges so it is assumed that “there will be other trials because he has been sued for a fraction of the things he has done.”
