In the United States, a judicial process is underway against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. They were arrested in Caracas during a U.S. military operation and are being held in Brooklyn. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and illegal weapons possession. Currently, Maduro's and Flores's attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that their right to a defense has been violated. They claim that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) modified a license that had allowed the use of Venezuelan government funds to pay for legal services, preventing them from hiring a lawyer of their choice. The prosecution opposes this argument. The judge must review the defense's motion and the prosecution's response. The defendants' lawyers state that they have not yet been provided with all the case materials. Experts note that due to the vast amount of evidence gathered over years of investigation, the process will take a long time. The current phase is the "discovery phase," during which the defense must review all materials and conduct its own investigation. Only after this will a decision be made on a trial date. If Maduro cannot afford a private attorney, the court may appoint a public defender. The quality of such a defense can vary significantly.
