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Who is Alvin Hellerstein? 92-year-old ‘hush money’ judge tapped for Nicolas Maduro case in Manhattan
Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old federal judge appointed by Bill Clinton, will preside over Nicolas Maduro's trial after his capture by US forces in Caracas.
Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old Orthodox Jewish judge who was appointed to the federal court nearly three decades ago by Bill Clinton, will oversee the trial of Nicolas Maduro. The Venezuelan leader and his wife were captured on Saturday by US military forces while he was asleep in Caracas. He was later transported to the Brooklyn Detention Center to await his arraignment, which is set for Monday.
After learning that Hellerstein will oversee Maduro case, Trump said, “He is very respected.”
Hellerstein presided over Trump's hush money trial
Hellerstein has consistently dismissed attempts by President Donald Trump to transfer his New York State criminal case regarding “hush money” payments to federal court. However, a federal appeals court has recently determined that he must reevaluate his decisions in that case, taking into account a 2024 Supreme Court ruling concerning presidential immunity.
Who is Alvin Hellerstein?
Hellerstein, who was born in New York in 1933, served in the military prosecution service of the US Army, practiced law in the private sector, and was appointed as a federal judge for the Southern District of New York by then-President Bill Clinton in May 1998. He is recognized as one of the longest-serving judges currently in office.
Hellerstein, an alumnus of Columbia University School of Law, commenced his career as a clerk at the court he currently presides over. Throughout his professional journey, he has delivered well-reasoned judgments and is known for his impartiality, despite being a notable figure within the Jewish community, EL PAIS reported.
Cases handled by Alvin Hellerstein
Last September, Hellerstein halted efforts to deport demonstrators who protested against Israel's war in Gaza, ruling that the proposed deportations were unlawful.
Hellerstein similarly prevented the same administration from deporting Venezuelans under the “Alien Enemies Act”, concluding that the law had been enforced unlawfully.
The judge is also overseeing the case against former Venezuelan General Hugo Armando "Pollo" Carvajal, who faces allegations of drug trafficking. Maduro's trial will heavily rely on the evidence of this former Chavista government intelligence chief who has decided to assist the authorities. In the same federal court in New York where the Venezuelan president is scheduled to stand trial, Carvajal entered a guilty plea to four crimes related to narcotics trafficking and narcoterrorism last summer.
Alvin Hellerstein to stay busy with case against Maduro
Maduro, who was Venezuela’s president until early Saturday, was captured following what the report characterized as his capture by US Delta Force commandos. He is presently being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre (MDC), a facility that has faced ongoing criticism from judges, detainees, and human rights organizations regarding its conditions.
The indictment issued by the US Attorney General’s office charges the Venezuelan leader with four offenses: conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States. These charges are also filed against his wife, his son, and two other senior officials in his administration.
The prosecution alleges that Maduro has illegally enriched himself during his tenure in various positions within the Venezuelan government and that he had intentions to inundate the US with drugs.
