Ryan Lucas

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the hearing in federal court in lower Manhattan, both Maduro and his wife were dressed in beige jumpsuits and headphones, through which they listened to the proceedings via an interpreter.

The hearing focused on a dispute over allowing the Venezuelan government to pay for the Maduro's legal defense.

Maduro's attorney says the U.S.

isn't allowing Venezuela to pick up the tab.

He says that interferes with Maduro's constitutional right to counsel and the case should be dismissed.

Prosecutors say the Venezuelan government can't pay because it is under American sanctions.

U.S.

District Judge Alvin Hellerstein did not rule from the bench on the matter and noted that this case is unique.

Ryan Lucas, NPR News, New York.

Michael Flynn briefly served as national security advisor in Trump's first term.

He pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador and cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference.

but Flynn later changed his tune and claimed he was innocent and tried to withdraw his guilty plea.

Ultimately, President Trump pardoned him in late 2020.

Three years later, Flynn sued the government, alleging the criminal case against him was wrongful and malicious.

Flynn was seeking $50 million.

During the Biden administration, the Justice Department had sought to dismiss the case.

Now, court papers say the Trump DOJ has reached a financial settlement, but does not specify the amount.

Ryan Lucas, NPR News.

The Justice Department alleges in court papers that the motor tanker Skipper was involved in the shipment and sale of oil products for the benefit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.