00:01Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys announced in a joint letter
00:05the late Friday, April 24, that the U.S. Treasury Department
00:09will allow the Venezuelan government to pay the legal fees
00:12for the defense of kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro
00:14and First Lady and Deputy Celia Flores.
00:17Precisely, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Access Control
00:21amended specific licenses to facilitate the payments and actions
00:27that ensures legal income can be compensated without violating federal sanctions
00:31and laws that target the Venezuelan leadership.
00:34The defense argued that restricting access to government funds
00:40violate the constitutional right to counsel with Judge Albin Hellerstein,
00:46expressing skepticism toward the government's previous refusal to grant the license,
00:51noting the defendants were already in federal custody and did not pose a threat.
00:56The agreement ends a week's long legal standoff regarding U.S. sanctions
01:00that have prevented the couple from funding their defense against charges.
01:04Following the amendment, prosecutors confirmed that the defense team
01:08has dropped its legal challenge against the funding restrictions.
01:12Regardless, Attorney Barry Pollack indicated he still intends to challenge the legality of the arrest,
01:18citing presidential immunity for conduct occurring during President Maduro's tenure.
01:23Judge Albin Hellerstein
01:23and the defense attorney's vote on the other side.
01:23Attorney General Fe 1930
01:24He-Depickel
01:24Duelan Hellerstein
01:26Dequats
01:27Dequats
01:29Dequats
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