NEW YORK, New York – The United States has agreed to permit the Venezuelan government to finance the legal defense of ousted President Nicolás Maduro, resolving a weeks-long dispute that had threatened to derail one of the most high-profile international criminal cases in recent years.

In a joint letter submitted late Friday to a federal judge in New York, prosecutors and defense attorneys confirmed that the US Treasury Department amended a sanctions license to allow payments to lawyers representing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both have pleaded not guilty to charges that include drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

Under the revised arrangement, defense attorneys may receive funds from the Venezuelan government, provided the payments come from money available after March 5, 2026, and comply with specific conditions outlined by US authorities.

The dispute centered on US sanctions imposed on both Maduro and Venezuela, which require special authorization from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for any financial transactions. Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, had argued that the government initially approved — then abruptly revoked — such authorization, undermining his client’s constitutional right to legal representation.

Prosecutors maintained that the reversal was due to an “administrative error” and insisted that the defendants could use personal funds. However, the defense countered that Maduro and his wife lacked access to such resources, intensifying the legal impasse.

The disagreement prompted defense lawyers to seek dismissal of the indictment, claiming that US actions were obstructing their ability to mount an effective defense against allegations tied to a narco-terrorism conspiracy. During a court hearing last month, prosecutors argued that sanctions serve broader foreign policy goals and are justified in restricting access to funds.

Presiding Judge Alvin Hellerstein expressed skepticism about that position, noting that Maduro and Flores are already in federal custody and do not pose an ongoing threat. Following the Treasury’s decision to amend the license, defense attorneys have since withdrawn their legal challenge.

Maduro and his wife remain detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as the case proceeds. Their legal team is expected to continue contesting the charges, including potential arguments that Maduro is immune from prosecution for actions taken while he was Venezuela’s president.

Maduro, first elected in 2013, has not been recognized as Venezuela’s legitimate leader by the United States and several other countries since 2019. In March, the US government formally recognized former vice president Delcy Rodríguez as the country’s leader.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a landmark ruling that has sent shockwaves through the athletics world, four of Jamaica’s top field athletes, including reigning Olympic men’s discus champion Roje Stona, have had their requests to switch allegiance to Turkey rejected by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel 

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States human rights group, Human Rights Watch, has condemned the latest US military strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea that killed four people.

BOSTON, United States – VJ Edgecombe’s record-breaking performance helped the Philadelphia 76ers bounce back from their opening game defeat to stun the Boston Celtics 111-97 at TD Garden here on Tuesday.

ROSEAU, Dominica – Two United States nationals Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the 2023 murder of Canadian Daniel Langlois and his partner, Dominique Marchand.

NEW YORK, New York – Immigration advocates rallied at the State Capitol in Albany on Wednesday, calling for the swift passage of the New York for All Act to strengthen protections for immigrants across the state.

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States says it will provide US$10 million in programming to support “resilient” Caribbean port infrastructure through the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew late Saturday night reiterated that Trinidad and Tobago was not “uninvited”  to the retreat where a decision was taken to reappoint Belizean economist Dr. Carla Barnett as Secretary General of the 15-member regional integration grouping.

PARAMARIBO,  Suriname – President Jennifer Greelings-Simons Monday said that the Suriname will remember the many years of service former head of state, Chandrikapersad ‌Santokhi, provided to the country following his sudden death on Monday.

BOSTON – Caribbean and immigrant advocacy groups are welcoming the bipartisan passage of legislation in the United States House of Representatives to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, describing it as a major step toward protecting hundreds of thousands from deportation.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali Wednesday defended the procedure used to re-appoint Belizean economist Dr.  Carla Barnett for another five-year term as Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General saying “I was involved in the discussions as all other heads on the reappointment of the Secretary General.

NEW YORK, New York – Guyana-born attorney, Michelle R. DeSouza-Forte, is seeking a seat on the Kings County (Brooklyn) Civil Court bench.