Judge pushes Trump admin to let Venezuela pay for Maduro’s legal fees - Politico

A federal judge has directed the Trump administration to allow Venezuela to pay for Nicolás Maduro's legal fees, according to reporting by Politico. The order addresses a dispute over whether frozen Venezuelan assets can be used to cover the authoritarian leader's defense in legal proceedings. The Trump administration had opposed releasing funds for Maduro's legal costs, reflecting its broader adversarial stance toward the Venezuelan government. The judge's directive creates pressure on the White House to clarify its policy on seized Venezuelan funds and their potential use for Maduro's defense. The ruling touches on competing interests: preventing Maduro from accessing frozen state assets versus respecting legal rights to counsel in U.S. courts.