Maduro charged with crimes in New York court
Venezuela's former president, Nicolas Maduro, was charged with a series of serious crimes in a US federal court in New York today, several media outlets report.
Maduro was arrested by US forces during a high-profile military operation shortly after the turn of the year.
The charges against Maduro include that he collaborated with drug cartels and facilitated their smuggling of drugs into the US.
US President Donald Trump announced that the US would charge Maduro with additional crimes, but it was not immediately clear which ones.
If convicted, he faces life in prison. The trial is expected to be lengthy. Maduro claims that as president he has immunity, but this has been disputed by prosecutors.
Conflict over who should pay Maduro's lawyers
A conflict over who should pay Maduro's legal fees is ongoing in the case against the former president of Venezuela, several media outlets report.
The Trump administration is preventing the Venezuelan government from paying Maduro's legal fees. Maduro's lawyers say it violates his right to choose his own defense, and have asked the judge to dismiss the case.
But the judge is not agreeing.
The 92-year-old judge Alvin Hellerstein says he will not dismiss the case, but he may change his mind if there is evidence that the Trump administration has arbitrarily prevented Venezuela from paying.
Hellerstein also emphasizes that Maduro and his wife do not have many alternative options for payment, as their assets are subject to sanctions.
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