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The second judicial hearing against Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, accused by the U.S. Justice of charges related to drug trafficking and weapons, began this Thursday in a federal court in the Southern District of New York, on a crucial day within a process considered historic.
According to information from agencies and international media, the hearing began under the supervision of Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who entered the courtroom around 11:45 (15:45 GMT), although it was scheduled for 11:00.
According to reports, Maduro and his wife are wearing beige prison uniforms and are using headphones for translation.
Kyle Wirshba represents the government, and Barry Pollack represents Maduro.
In the surroundings of the venue, Venezuelans both for and against Nicolás Maduro have demonstrated with chants and slogans.
Maduro and Flores appear for the second time before U.S. justice since their capture in Caracas last January during a military operation conducted by the United States.
Both declared themselves "innocent of the charges of drug and weapon trafficking" following their arrest.
In this hearing, it is expected that the defense of the former Venezuelan president will insist that the U.S. government is interfering with his right to adequate legal representation. One of the central issues of the case revolves around the limitations imposed by the sanctions currently in place against the Venezuelan government.
Maduro's lawyer recently warned that he could abandon the case if Washington does not authorize the use of Venezuelan funds to pay fees. Due to the sanctions, any transaction requires a special license, which has opened a new legal front in the process.
The defense argues that this situation "is interfering with their defense," while the prosecution moves forward with validating evidence and defining the terms of the trial.
This Thursday's hearing also marks the beginning of a stage in which key aspects of the case could be discussed, including the drug trafficking, conspiracy, and weapons possession charges that both defendants are facing.
This new judicial chapter unfolds amidst a strong political and legal component, and it will be decisive in shaping the course of a process that could extend for months.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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