Following a dramatic military operation by the United States, Venezuela's ousted President Nicolás Maduro has secured the services of top defense attorney Barry Pollack for his legal battle. Maduro is set to appear in Manhattan's Federal Court on charges linked to drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, is being represented by Mark Donnelly, a Houston-based expert in white-collar crime who has previously served as a Justice Department prosecutor and is also proficient in Spanish.
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Maduro faces a revised indictment of four counts, accusing him of a conspiracy with narco-traffickers for nearly 25 years. Currently, Maduro and his wife are held at MDC-Brooklyn detention center, and they are expected to appear at 12 PM U.S. time before Judge Alvin Hellerstein. This will be Maduro's first public appearance since the U.S. Special Forces' operation in Caracas on Saturday.
Who is Barry Pollack, the Lawyer Behind Julian Assange's Release?
Barry Pollack is gaining attention for having played a crucial role in the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in June 2024.
Under Pollack’s leadership, the legal team brokered a historic plea deal wherein Assange pled guilty to one espionage charge, leading to his release based on time already served. All other charges were dropped, averting a potential 175-year sentence.
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Maduro's choice to appoint Pollack signals his intent to mount an aggressive legal defense against the U.S. charges, which he has long denied.
Vice President Becomes Venezuela's Acting President
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump hailed Maduro's arrest as a significant triumph, asserting that the U.S. is prepared to 'manage' Venezuela's situation. This declaration prompted a sharp backlash in Caracas, where the Supreme Court has sworn in Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as the interim leader.
