After an hour and a quarter of negotiations, Nicolás Maduro - dressed in a khaki-colored prison uniform - stood up and shook hands with his lawyer Barry Pollack and said "hasta mañana" ("see you tomorrow" in Spanish), reports the AP news agency.
At that time, Judge Alvin Hellerstein had decided not to make any decisions on Thursday. Neither regarding how Maduro's defense will be paid nor when he will next appear in court.
Due to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, the Venezuelan government has not been allowed to cover the costs. Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued that it is not reasonable for Maduro to be assigned a public defender because it would take resources earmarked for people who cannot afford their own lawyers. Prosecutor Kyle Wirshba, for his part, argued that Maduro should use his own money to pay the costs.
Protesters in the streets
Outside the Manhattan courthouse, crowds of protesters had gathered to show both their support and their disgust for Maduro. According to the BBC, minor skirmishes broke out before police took control of the situation.
In the Venezuelan capital Caracas, an estimated 100 Maduro supporters had gathered in solidarity, writes AP. A large screen read "83 days since the kidnapping."
Trump: "More trials"
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been in custody since they were abducted by U.S. military personnel in Caracas on January 3. A few days later, in an initial court appearance, they pleaded not guilty to charges including drug trafficking.
"I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro said at the time.
U.S. President Donald Trump said at a cabinet meeting that he "could imagine" Maduro facing more charges in the future.
