Sanctions block Venezuela from funding Maduro’s U.S. defense, lawyer says

Maduro can’t pay for his U.S. legal defense because the Trump administration blocked Venezuela from funding his representation; Treasury’s OFAC had initially granted a license to cover defense costs on Jan. 9 but revoked it less than three hours later. Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, says he may seek court intervention to protect Maduro’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel as Maduro and his wife face narcotics and weapons charges in New York, with a March 17 hearing upcoming.