The United States government has granted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro access to funds he can use to pay for his legal defense in a U.S. criminal case, Bloomberg reported Saturday.
Maduro is facing federal charges in the United States. The decision to allow him access to funds marks a notable procedural step in a case that carries significant diplomatic weight. The Venezuelan leader appeared at the Wall Street heliport in New York in January ahead of a court appearance, signaling the case has moved into active litigation.
The precise source and amount of the funds were not detailed in the initial report. Granting a sanctioned foreign leader access to money for legal defense in a U.S. proceeding involves coordination between the Justice Department and Treasury Department, which oversees sanctions compliance. Such authorizations are sometimes issued as a matter of due process to ensure defendants can mount a legal defense, even when their assets are otherwise restricted.
Maduro has faced U.S. indictment on charges related to narco-terrorism, allegations the Venezuelan government has consistently denied. His case sits at the intersection of U.S. drug enforcement, foreign policy toward Venezuela, and the broader effort to pressure his government through legal and economic means.
The move comes as U.S.-Venezuela relations remain deeply strained. Washington has not recognized Maduro's presidency as legitimate following disputed elections, and sanctions remain in place targeting his government and associated individuals. The legal proceedings now add another dimension to that standoff, with American courts becoming a venue for accountability efforts that diplomacy has not resolved.
No trial date has been publicly announced.
