Story perspectives

Judge Blocks Sanctions Relief for Maduro Defense Funding

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. agreed to ease sanctions so Venezuela can fund Nicolas Maduro’s defense.
Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores are detained in Brooklyn pending narcoterrorism conspiracy trial.
Barry Pollack argued the sanctions violate the defendants’ constitutional right to chosen counsel.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he cannot order Treasury to change sanctions, as foreign-policy decisions belong to the executive.
Nicolas Maduro dismissed the drug-trafficking accusations as a U.S. pretext to seize Venezuela’s oil.

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Story summary

U.S. agreed to ease sanctions so Venezuela can fund Nicolas Maduro’s defense.
Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores are detained in Brooklyn pending narcoterrorism conspiracy trial.
Barry Pollack argued the sanctions violate the defendants’ constitutional right to chosen counsel.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he cannot order Treasury to change sanctions, as foreign-policy decisions belong to the executive.
Nicolas Maduro dismissed the drug-trafficking accusations as a U.S. pretext to seize Venezuela’s oil.