North Americans changed sanctions imposed on Caracas; former president is arrested in New York
The United States has modified its sanctions against Venezuela to allow the government of the South American country to pay for the defense of , 63, and his wife, , 69, in the criminal trial for drug trafficking in which they are defendants in New York. The change was announced on Friday (April 24, 2026).
The change took place 2 months after defense lawyer Barry Pollack asked the district judge responsible for the case, Alvin Hellerstein, from Manhattan, to dismiss the action. Pollack ordered in February.
Maduro’s lawyer argued that the ban on payment of fees by the Venezuelan government violated the constitutional rights of the former president and his wife to choose their own defense. He said that neither Maduro nor Flores could bear the costs on their own and that Caracas was willing to pay their fees.
Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba stated that the US sanctions blocking the payments were based on legitimate national security and foreign policy interests. Wirshba said Hellerstein could not order the Treasury Department to modify sanctions because the executive branch, not the judiciary, is responsible for foreign policy.
Hellerstein disagreed with the prosecutor’s justification. He declared that he does not intend to close the case, but that he disagrees with the arguments presented by the government. He said that the US has eased sanctions against Venezuela since Maduro’s deposition in January 2026.
“The defendant is here, Flores is here. They no longer pose any threat to national securityl”, stated Hellerstein. “The right in question, paramount over other rights, is the right to a constitutional lawyer.”
Maduro and Cilia Flores went to the US government on January 3, 2026 at their residence in Caracas. US special forces conducted the operation. The couple was taken to New York to face criminal charges. Both pleaded not guilty.
