Maduro Adds Reagan-Era Lawyer Bruce Fein as U.S. Narcoterrorism Case Begins in New York

Overview

• A court filing on Tuesday shows Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer who served in the Reagan Justice Department, has joined Nicolás Maduro’s U.S. defense team.
• Barry J. Pollack, known for negotiating Julian Assange’s 2024 plea agreement, is expected to steer Maduro’s strategy in the Southern District of New York.
• The Manhattan court appointed David Wikstrom for the initial stage of the case covering first appearances and rights advisals, with reporting indicating he may soon exit.
• Cilia Flores is set to be represented by Houston-based attorney Mark Donnelly, who submitted her initial petition.
• Maduro and Flores face charges including narcoterrorism, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses, with prosecutors alleging ties to a state-backed trafficking network after their reported capture in Caracas during a U.S.-linked operation.