US judge weighs Trump decision to bar Venezuelan funds for Maduro’s defence

A federal judge is examining whether the Trump administration's decision to block Venezuelan funds interferes with Nicolás Maduro's ability to mount a legal defense in his US criminal case. Judge Hellerstein declined to dismiss charges against Maduro but pressed prosecutors on how the defendant can access resources for his defense team given the asset restrictions. The ruling highlights the tension between US sanctions policy aimed at pressuring Maduro's regime and fundamental due-process rights in criminal proceedings. Maduro, Venezuela's authoritarian leader, faces charges in the US, though he remains in Caracas and has not appeared in court. The judge's questioning suggests courts may require the administration to carve out exceptions to sanctions that prevent criminal defendants from hiring lawyers and mounting a defense.