All articles tagged with #maduro
A Manhattan judge urged Treasury's OFAC to revisit a license that would let Venezuela pay Nicolás Maduro's legal fees, saying the right to defense is paramount even under sanctions; Maduro and his wife Flores are charged with drug trafficking, and the judge warned he might dismiss the case if the license is denied, though he said he won't.
US prosecutors say Maduro and his wife cannot use Venezuela’s government funds to pay for their legal defense in a New York narco-terrorism case, citing sanctions and alleged plunder of national wealth; the defense argues dismissal is premature and emphasizes the right to counsel. Judge Alvin Hellerstein indicated the right to defense is paramount and will rule later, with no bail or trial date set.
A federal judge in New York refused to dismiss the narcotics indictment against Nicolás Maduro and his wife, allowing the case to proceed. Defense arguments that the U.S. blocked access to Venezuelan government funds for their representation were not sustained, with the judge saying a ruling on funding would come later. Prosecutors also sought a protective order to limit discovery sharing with co-defendants at large. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty and are detained as the high-profile case heads toward trial amid outside demonstrations.
Nicolas Maduro, the deposed Venezuelan leader, is being held in a high-security ‘SAMs’ unit at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center under special administrative measures that restrict outside contact while he faces narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking charges; his wife is in a separate unit, and Maduro has pleaded not guilty. The SAMs unit, refurbished after MCC Manhattan’s closure, houses up to 12 inmates with 24-hour surveillance and limited recreation, and his lawyers are seeking dismissal amid licensing disputes with OFAC.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in the trial of ex-congressman David Rivera, who is accused of secretly lobbying for Maduro’s Venezuela to ease sanctions; Rivera and co-defendant Esther Nuhfer allegedly earned a $50 million contract from a PDVSA subsidiary to influence Rubio and other officials. Rubio, who says he has not been involved, noted their long friendship but denied any role in the scheme. The case marks the first time a current cabinet member testified in a U.S. criminal trial since 1983.
During a White House event, President Trump said he expects the 'honor' of taking Cuba as part of a broader hawkish foreign-policy push, noting Cuba's weakness while continuing the Iran conflict and engaging with Havana after Maduro's capture.
Maduro and his wife were jailed in New York and face a drug-trafficking indictment. The U.S. Treasury blocked authorization for the Venezuelan government to pay Maduro's legal fees after an initial license granted by OFAC, a move their lawyer says interferes with his Sixth Amendment right to counsel and highlights ongoing tensions in U.S. policy toward Venezuela ahead of a March 17 hearing.
Maduro can’t pay for his U.S. legal defense because the Trump administration blocked Venezuela from funding his representation; Treasury’s OFAC had initially granted a license to cover defense costs on Jan. 9 but revoked it less than three hours later. Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, says he may seek court intervention to protect Maduro’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel as Maduro and his wife face narcotics and weapons charges in New York, with a March 17 hearing upcoming.
After misreading Washington’s resolve, Maduro faced a Jan. 3 U.S.-led raid in Caracas that overpowered his guards, captured him and his wife, and killed more than 100 Cubans and Venezuelans; the attack toppled his grip on power, propelled Delcy Rodríguez to interim presidency, and signaled a new, unpredictable era of gunship diplomacy in Latin America, while Maduro was later arraigned in New York on drug charges.
The Pentagon reportedly used Anthropic's Claude during the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, prompting a reevaluation of Anthropic's Pentagon partnership amid safety concerns; Anthropic denies initiating the call. The episode highlights tensions between AI labs and the military over how such tools are used in operations, with Claude's exact role unclear and ongoing talks about loosening restrictions with other vendors.
The US military, via SOUTHCOM, says it carried out a lethal strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, killing two people. The strike is part of Operation Southern Spear and marks the second known attack this year with no US casualties reported. While the administration says the campaign aims to curb narcotics trafficking, Congress and military lawyers have raised questions about its legality, and the identities of those killed remain unclear. The broader context includes ongoing US pressure in the region and discussions surrounding Nicolás Maduro's status and charges in the Americas.
At a Senate hearing, Rubio refused to rule out future U.S. military action in Venezuela but emphasized the administration does not intend to act now, noting a self-defense option while framing oil seizures and licensing as short-term fixes. He suggested the goal is a longer-term energy strategy with U.S. firms and asserted cooperation from interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, even as Democrats question executive power and legal actions tied to Maduro’s regime.
Sen. Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that cooperation with the United States aligns with Venezuela’s interests and that Maduro’s arrest was not a war, with Washington signalling it does not plan military action. The administration envisions a transition to a “friendly, stable and prosperous” Venezuela, with oil revenues overseen by the US and used for the Venezuelan people, while trying to limit Iranian and Cuban influence. Democrats pressed on transparency over oil bidding, progress in six months, and congressional oversight of future powers. A protest interruption occurred during Rubio’s opening remarks.
In a Senate Foreign Relations hearing, Rubio defended the U.S. operation to seize Maduro, pressed for cooperation from Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, and warned force could be used if necessary, while Democrats argued the mission is costly and destabilizing amid growing Chinese/Russian influence. Sen. Risch framed the action as limited and constitutional, and Sen. Shaheen criticized the administration’s broader strategy. The report also notes U.S. strikes on drug-smuggling boats, regional troop deployments, and ongoing debates over the War Powers Act and congressional authorization.
Sen. Marco Rubio testifies before Congress, warning that Venezuela's leadership could face future U.S. military action if it strays from Washington's goals, reflecting escalating U.S. pressure amid tensions following a U.S. operation against Maduro.