'Lawyer of Julian Assange': Who is Barry Pollack? Man representing Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro

Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York federal court this week after being brought to the United States following a dramatic US military operation in Caracas. The hearing, held in Manhattan, marked Maduro’s first formal response to sweeping US charges, including narco-terrorism, and set the tone for what is expected to be a long and politically charged legal battle.Barry J Pollack is widely regarded as one of the most experienced criminal defence lawyers in the US, with more than three decades of work as a lawyer. During the proceedings, Maduro firmly rejected the accusations. Addressing the court, he said: “I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here.” His wife, Cilia Flores, also entered a not guilty plea after confirming her identity through a Spanish interpreter. “I am first lady of the Republic of Venezuela,” she said, before adding: “Not guilty. Completely innocent.”The judge, Alvin Hellerstein, formally entered a plea of not guilty on Maduro’s behalf. The hearing briefly turned to questions of status and jurisdiction, with Maduro insisting he remained Venezuela’s lawful leader. “I’m still the president of my country,” he was quoted as saying.Near the end of the hearing, Pollack told the court that his client “is head of a sovereign state and entitled to the privilege” that status provides. He also raised “questions about the legality of his military abduction” and warned there would be “voluminous” pretrial filings challenging the case.The next hearing will be on March 17.