Trump administration blocks Venezuela from paying Maduro's legal bills amid federal charges

The Trump administration blocked Venezuela from paying Nicolas Maduro's legal fees, according to Maduro's attorney, sparking Sixth Amendment concerns in federal drug trafficking case.

Nicolás Maduro is seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026, in New York City.  (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)

In the letter, dated Feb. 20, Pollack argued that under "Venezuelan law and custom, the government of Venezuela pays the expenses of the President and First Lady."

Pollack said that Maduro and the Venezuelan government were subjected to sanctions by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and his legal counsel would need to be granted a license to represent him and be paid.

While Pollack said OFAC granted licenses for both Maduro and Flores on Jan. 9, Maduro's license was amended "without explanation" to not allow the Venezuelan government to pay for his defense costs.

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Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad before being escorted to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026, in New York City. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)

"If OFAC fails to act on the request to reinstate the original license, or denies that request, Mr. Maduro will file a formal motion in the coming days seeking relief from the Court," he wrote.

The U.S. military conducted an operation to capture Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3. He was flown to New York, where he is being held in a federal jail.

Maduro was charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

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Flores faces three charges: cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Treasury Department for comment.

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Michael Sinkewicz is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to michael.sinkewicz@fox.com

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-administration-blocks-venezuela-from-paying-captured-maduros-legal-bills-amid-federal-charges