Maduro appears in court again, remaining silent throughout and losing 26 pounds! The 92-year-old presiding judge questions the prosecution: The defendant does not currently pose a threat to U.S. national security!

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Original title: Maduro Appears in Court Again, Remains Silent Throughout, Has Lost 26 Pounds! 92-Year-Old Presiding Judge Questions Prosecutors: The Defendant No Longer Poses a Threat to U.S. National Security! Trump: More Charges Are Coming

Venezuelan President Maduro, who is forcibly controlled by the U.S., appeared again on the 26th at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Xinhua News Agency reporters at the scene observed that Maduro and his wife did not speak publicly during the entire time but sat in the defendant's seat listening, recording, and communicating with their lawyer.

In addition to the courtroom, there are three rooms for reporters and others to watch the hearing via internal closed-circuit television. Reporters entered the courthouse around 8:30 AM local time, queued in the lobby after passing strict security checks and surrendering all electronic devices. As the hearing was scheduled to start at 11 AM, reporters were arranged to a room on the 14th floor of the building to watch a live feed from a fixed camera, which had a small screen with limited angles.

Although the details were not very clear, reporters could still see that Maduro had lost a lot of weight. According to media reports, Maduro has lost 13 kilograms since early January.

According to CNN, Maduro is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. This detention center is "notorious," likened to a "hell on earth," where Maduro and his wife cannot meet or communicate directly. For years, lawyers have claimed that those held here eat "expired, undercooked, contaminated food," including "spoiled meats and dairy products."

According to reporters, Maduro and his wife were escorted to court around 4 AM, but the hearing did not begin until close to noon. How to pay the attorney fees became the focal point of negotiations between the prosecution and Maduro's defense lawyer. The defense attorney stated that Maduro lacks funds to hire a lawyer.

Previously, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control briefly issued a license allowing the defense attorney to accept payment for legal fees from the Venezuelan government for the defendant, but soon amended the license to prohibit such actions.

During the hearing, the defense attorney argued that the U.S. government's decision interferes with the defendant's constitutional right to hire a lawyer and receive a fair defense, violating the Sixth Amendment and due process rights under the U.S. Constitution. The defense attorney further proposed that a reasonable remedy would be for the court to dismiss the case. If dismissal is not allowed, the lawyer seeks to withdraw.

The prosecution responded that this case involves national security and foreign policy, emphasizing that the Sixth Amendment should be flexible, thus the Venezuelan government cannot pay for Maduro's legal fees.

The prosecution did not specify the details of the so-called "national security and foreign policy" considerations, nor did it propose any other remedies besides dismissing the case.

The 92-year-old presiding judge Alvin Hellerstein clearly responded that he would not dismiss the case. He also questioned the prosecution's claims about national security and foreign policy, believing that the defendant currently does not pose a threat to U.S. national security.

Given that Maduro is still a sitting president, Hellerstein described the case as "unique" and "unusual," stating he had never encountered such a case before.

If Maduro's current defense attorney ultimately chooses to withdraw, the U.S. government may appoint a lawyer for Maduro.

Similar to when Maduro and his wife first appeared in court on January 5, a significant number of people gathered outside the courthouse that day demanding the release of Maduro and his wife.

Ahmed, dressed in a jacket colored like the Venezuelan flag, told reporters that Maduro is still the legally elected leader of the country, and the couple was brought here against their will, so they should be allowed to return to their own country.

Jacob Malden from Brooklyn criticized the U.S. government for illegally attacking and kidnapping Maduro, stating that the U.S. has wasted a lot of money on war, and American citizens have also become victims. "Our tax money is wasted, and we are the ones most affected. We are the ones facing higher prices, and we are also the ones dying for the war."

U.S. President Trump hinted that Maduro will face more charges.





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Editor: Song Yafang