Judge in Maduro trial says public defenders would be burdened if they take case
Demonstrators protest outside Manhattan federal court before a pre-trial hearing in former Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro's drug trafficking case on Thursday. Credit: AP/Heather Khalifa
The prosecution said Maduro has faced sanctions for years, and he should have known he would not be able to access Venezuelan government resources to defend himself.
Judge Hellerstein does not appear to be swayed.
"The right to defend oneself is paramount," he said, calling the Maduro prosecution "beyond the realm of normal" and said a case this complex would inappropriately burden public defenders' offices.
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