Tocorón Watch
Cilia Flores asks to join Maduro's motion to dismiss the indictment
Cilia Flores's defense filed a memorandum asking the judge to let her join co-defendant Nicolás Maduro's motion to dismiss the indictment. The filing argues that the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had authorized Venezuela's government, on January 9, 2026, to pay Flores's legal fees, but revoked that authorization on February 28, 2026, two days after Maduro filed his own motion raising the same funding issue. The defense argues the revocation looks retaliatory and interferes with Flores's right to counsel of her choice.
- Court
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan) · case 1:11-cr-00205
- Judge
- Alvin K. Hellerstein · who he is
- Prosecution
- U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York (U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton)
- Defense
- Barry Pollack (Maduro) · Mark Donnelly (Cilia Flores)
- Next date
- September 30, 2026 · Defense reply on house arrest due
- Where it stands
- Maduro and Cilia Flores held at MDC Brooklyn since January 2026; both pleaded not guilty. Trial set for June 1, 2027. Hugo Carvajal pleaded guilty (June 2025) and awaits sentencing. Diosdado Cabello is charged but not in custody.
What it means
The defense argues that, as with Maduro, the U.S. government is now blocking Venezuelan government funds meant to pay Flores's legal fees, which it says violates her Sixth Amendment right to counsel of choice and her due process right to present a defense. Flores is not raising new legal arguments, but asks that her case be decided together with Maduro's for judicial economy. If the dismissal motion is denied, her attorney, Mark Donnelly, alternatively asks for leave to withdraw from the representation.
What happens next
According to the filing, the government's opposition to the dismissal motion was due no later than March 13, 2026, and the defense reply no later than March 20, 2026.
In the document's own words
“On Saturday, February 28, 2026, less than 48 hours after Mr. Maduro filed his above referenced motion to dismiss based on OFAC's interference with his ability to fund his legal defense, OFAC abruptly amended the license for Mrs. Flores de Maduro.”
“Like Mr. Maduro, Mrs. Flores de Maduro lacks personal financial resources to pay for her legal defense.”
“This action interferes with her Sixth Amendment right to counsel of choice and her Due Process right to present a defense, exactly as it has done to Mr. Maduro.”
“the government will file an opposition no later than March 13, 2026, and the defense will file a reply no later than March 20, 2026”
How the court describes it (original, English)
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