In a hearing marked by a heated exchange between prosecutors and defense, a federal judge in New York rejected the request from former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to dismiss the case against him, but left a crucial decision in suspense: how he will finance his legal defense. The session, which lasted for over an hour, highlighted the legal and political complexity of a process that the judge himself described as "unique." The main point of discussion was the funding block that prevents Maduro from paying his private lawyer, Barry Pollack. The defense argued that this restriction violates his "fundamental right" to choose legal representation, backed by the Sixth Amendment. However, the judge decided to reserve his ruling while analyzing possible legal avenues to unblock the funding. The hearing also left other relevant elements: Maduro was seen "thinner", while his wife, Cilia Flores, requested urgent medical attention, including an electrocardiogram, which was authorized by the court. "It is a UNIQUE case," said the judge.
