Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia Flores with US agents

The United States will allow Venezuela to pay for Nicolas Maduro’s legal defense, lifting a stay in New York on the ousted leader’s trial on drugs and other charges, a court filing revealed.US Treasury sanctions on Venezuela previously prevented Venezuela – now ruled by Maduro’s deputy – from sending money to pay lawyers to represent the leftist strongman and his wife.The two were captured by US forces in an overnight raid in early January and taken to New York to face federal criminal charges. Maduro’s defense had sought to have their cases dismissed on the grounds that blocking funding violates the U.S. Constitution’s right to counsel of one’s choice.A court filing Friday by U.S. prosecutors in New York said the Treasury’s “Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued amended licenses to the defendants’ attorneys” that authorize them “to receive payments from the Venezuelan government.” The funds must be provided no later than March 5, 2026, and cannot come from U.S.-regulated oil sales.Since Maduro’s ouster, the US has effectively controlled Venezuelan oil exports. The money goes into special accounts overseen by Washington. According to Friday’s filing, the defense accepts the sanctions waiver and is currently raising its motion to dismiss the charges.