In a historic legal development on January 5, 2026, deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro hired Barry J. Pollack to lead his defense against federal narco-terrorism and weapons charges in the United States.
Key Of Legal Details
- Defense Team: Maduro retained Pollack, a Washington-based trial lawyer best known for representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and negotiating the 2024 deal that secured Assange’s freedom.
- Co-Defendant: Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, who was also captured in the weekend military raid, is being represented by Mark E. Donnelly, a former Justice Department prosecutor from Houston.
- First Appearance: Both Maduro and Flores appeared before 92-year-old U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in a Manhattan federal court on January 5, 2026, where they pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Context of the Case
Maduro and his wife were seized by U.S. commandos on January 3, 2026, during a surprise military operation in Caracas. The unsealed indictment alleges that Maduro led a “corrupt, illegitimate government” that conspired with drug cartels for over 25 years to flood the U.S. with cocaine.
Defense strategies are expected to include claims of sovereign immunity as a head of state, a tactic previously attempted by Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega following his capture in 1990. However, the U.S. does not currently recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
