Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Asks Judge to Toss Out Indictment Against Him

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: US News & World Report/AP

Feb. 26, 2026, at 6:21 p.m.


NEW YORK (AP) — The lawyer for deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asked a judge on Thursday to toss out the indictment against his client on the grounds that the United States has unconstitutionally violated his rights to defend himself by blocking Venezuelan funds to pay his legal costs.

Attorney Barry Pollack filed papers in Manhattan federal court, saying the U.S. government has violated his client’s due process rights by blocking funds to defend him that should come from the Venezuelan government. “Mr. Maduro, as Venezuela’s head of state, has both a right and an expectation to have legal fees associated with these charges funded by the government of Venezuela,” Pollack wrote.

The court submission included a declaration from Maduro in which he said he understood that under the laws and practices of Venezuela, “I am entitled to have the government of Venezuela pay for my legal defense.”

“I have relied on this expectation and cannot afford to pay for my own legal defense,” he said. Maduro added that he has “been working” with Pollack on his legal defense and that he “is my counsel of choice.” The declaration was signed “President Nicolas Maduro Moros.”

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2026-02-26/deposed-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-asks-judge-to-toss-out-indictment-against-him

[cstanleytech]

1. The counter argument the government will probably use is that he's not the legitimate president.

Thus they will then argue that the government of Venezuela is not required to pay for his defense.

[maxsolomon]

2. I think there's a fairly good chance this case will get tossed.

I will laugh and laugh.