Overview
- Barry Pollack, who represented Nicolás Maduro at his Manhattan arraignment, told Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein he will contest the U.S. capture and assert sovereign-immunity protections while raising medical concerns.
- Bruce Fein filed to join the defense despite having had no direct contact with Maduro, citing messages from people in his inner circle who said Maduro wanted Fein’s help.
- Pollack asked the court to strike Fein’s appearance after confirming with Maduro that he had not retained or communicated with Fein.
- Fein requested a private interview between the judge and Maduro to resolve who is authorized to represent him, as federal prosecutors declined to take a position on the dispute.
- Maduro remains detained at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after pleading not guilty to narco-terrorism, cocaine-trafficking conspiracy, and weapons charges, with the next court date set for March 17.