Nicolás Maduro is "very encouraged" two days before the second hearing of his trial, says his son

Caracas.- Venezuelan deputy Nicolás Maduro Guerra, son of Nicolás Maduro, assured this Monday that his father «is doing very well» and with «much encouragement», two days before his second trial hearing in the United States, where he is detained after having been captured by US troops last January.

"They are very well, strong, very well, very well, with a lot of spirit, with a lot of strength and we are going to see a thin, athletic president, he is exercising every day," Maduro Guerra pointed out in a video published on X by Telesur journalist Madelein García. The deputy said that the first lady, Cilia Flores, also captured last January, is "firm and alert". Likewise, he said that the trial hearing scheduled for next March 26 will serve to "continue to elevate the truth of Venezuela and the truth of the innocence of Maduro and Cilia." Maduro is accused of four charges: three of conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism, importing cocaine, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices; and a fourth crime of possessing those weapons.

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Flores, for her part, is accused of four other related charges: two of conspiracy to import cocaine, one of conspiracy to possess weapons, and one of possession of weapons.

Without resources to afford the defense?

On Thursday, Maduro and Flores reiterated before the federal court in New York that they have no resources to finance their defense in the drug trafficking case and stated that they are willing to present financial evidence if the judge requests it, to reinforce their request to dismiss the indictment. Lawyers Barry Pollack and Mark E. Donelly stated in a document sent to the judge, on behalf of their clients, that, according to the defense, the Prosecutor's Office recognizes the right of both to request that the Government of Venezuela pay for their defense. In addition, they included sworn statements from Maduro and Flores in which they claim they cannot afford their lawyers and express their willingness to present financial evidence if the court requires it.

So far, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), of the Department of the Treasury, which administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions, has not authorized the Government of Venezuela to pay its lawyers, which, they allege in a document sent to federal judge Alvin Hellerstein, interferes with the right of both to choose their own legal team.

You can also read: Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores will appear before the New York court on March 26 OFAC has imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela since 2015 that sought to pressure for political change, and the U.S. Government does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.