US Treasury Allows Venezuelan Government to Fund Maduro's Legal Defense Amid Sanctions
The United States has agreed to allow the Venezuelan government to pay for the legal defense of ousted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, ending a legal standoff. This decision was communicated through a joint letter from federal prosecutors and Maduro's attorneys to the judge overseeing the case. The Treasury Department amended a license to permit these payments without violating U.S. sanctions laws. Maduro and his wife, who face drug and weapons charges, have pleaded not guilty. The amended licenses allow defense counsel to receive payments from the Venezuelan government under specific conditions, using funds available after March 5, 2026. Previously, Maduro's attorney argued that the reversal of a license to pay legal fees violated Maduro's constitutional rights, as he claimed to lack personal funds for his defense. 
