What his lawyer said: Ahead of the hearing, Maduro’s defense attorney Barry Pollack declined to directly answer CNN’s questions about how Maduro was holding up after spending nearly three months in detention. What defense argued: Maduro’s lawyer said the ousted leader and first lady testified they cannot pay their legal fees on their own and the Venezuelan government should be able to pay for it. Venezuela’s ruling party expressed solidarity with the ousted president and first lady in a statement published during their court hearing, calling for the defense of their “legitimate rights”. Maduro’s supporters held a rally at Bolívar Square in Caracas demanding the release of the ousted president and first lady from US custody. People began lining up for Maduro’s hearing shortly before 6 a.m., five hours before the hearing was scheduled to start.

Source: CNN March 26, 2026 19:03 UTC