Barry Pollack, the lead attorney for Venezuela's ousted president Nicolás Maduro, informed a New York court that the U.S. Treasury Department has obstructed a license that would allow the Venezuelan government to pay for its legal defense. In a communication to Judge Alvin Hellerstein overseeing the U.S. justice case against Maduro, Pollack detailed how the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is interfering with Maduro's right to defense. This assertion raises concerns about the extent to which U.S. sanctions impact not only the government of Venezuela but also individual legal rights.

Pollack pointed out that on January 9, OFAC granted a license that permitted Maduro's defense team to receive funds from Caracas to represent him in the ongoing case. However, he noted that merely three hours later, this license was amended without explanation, raising questions about the inconsistency and lack of transparency in the Treasury’s dealings with Maduro’s legal representation. This situation highlights the challenges lawyers face when navigating the complexities of international sanctions while attempting to ensure due process for their clients.

The implications of the U.S. government's actions extend beyond this specific case; they signify a larger strategy to enforce sanctions against Venezuela and its leaders, potentially undermining their legal rights. As the legal battle unfolds, both the Venezuelan government and international observers will closely watch how these sanctions continue to shape the judicial landscape for Maduro and similar figures targeted by U.S. policies.