Maduro's Narco-Terrorism Trial: Status Conference in Manhattan

0:00It's March 26. You're listening to Derm News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. Austin Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, and his wife Silya Flores, head back to a man hat in courtroom on Thursday for a key status conference in there. Federal Narco Terrorism case. They pleaded not guilty back in January to charges like drug trafficking conspiracies and weapons offenses. The pair conspired with cartels to flood the United States with cocaine while Maduro held power. Their lawyers are fighting hard to dismiss the whole case, arguing that United States sanctions block Venezuela from covering their legal bills. Maduro claims in a core filing that he expects the Venezuelan government to pay but cannot afford it himself. This comes after the Treasury Department pulled back permission for those funds, calling it an earlier mix-up. Maduro once lived large with mansions, private jets, luxury cars, and millions and assets during his years as president.

1:00Now he's stuck in a Brooklyn jail cell since United States Special Forces grabbed him in Caracas back in January. That raid sparked global backlash, but it brought him here to face trial. Prosecutors push back, saying Maduro and Flores can tap their personal wealth for defense, and that sanctions predate the charges anyway. These teams hint at head of state immunity as another shield, though past cases like Manuel Noriegas didn't go that way. No bail yet, but the judge might review it later. Thursday's hearing could decide if the motion gets a full review or moves the case forward as relations between the United States and Venezuela start to thaw.