Maduro’s Attorney: A History of Backing Democrats
The lead attorney defending ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is a well-known political donor who has consistently supported Democratic campaigns for Congress and the presidency over the past two decades, according to a review of campaign finance records.
Barry Pollack, a partner at Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler, is representing Maduro in federal court. While known for keeping a low profile, Pollack has a long history of contributing to Democratic candidates while working in Washington, D.C., from 1999 to 2020.
Pollack donated to John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator, during the 2008 presidential primaries. He later supported Barack Obama after Obama’s victory in the Iowa caucuses.
Pollack has also contributed to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as to the campaigns of several Democratic senators and congressional representatives. In 2020, he donated to six Democratic Senate candidates, with only one, Jon Ossoff of Georgia, winning their race.
Some of the Democratic politicians who have benefited from Pollack’s donations have been critical of actions taken against Maduro. These politicians have argued against intervention, emphasizing national sovereignty. It is worth noting the complexities of international relations and the differing viewpoints on how to best address situations involving foreign leaders.
During Maduro’s arraignment, Pollack characterized Maduro’s arrest as a “military abduction” and stated his intention to argue that Maduro is entitled to immunity as the head of Venezuela. However, legal precedent may not support this argument.
A similar claim was made by Manuel Noriega, the drug-trafficking dictator of Panama, after his capture by the United States. A federal appeals court ruled against Noriega, arguing that because the United States had not recognized him as Panama’s legitimate leader, his arrest was legal. The United States has considered Maduro an illegitimate leader since the controversial 2018 Venezuelan presidential election.
Maduro is not the only high-profile client Pollack has represented. He also negotiated the plea deal that led to the release of Julian Assange, who published classified documents provided by a U.S. Army intelligence analyst.
It is interesting to note that many of the active elected officials Pollack has supported have criticized actions against Maduro. One senator called the raid “wrong,” while another stated that there was “no credible justification for taking over a sovereign country.” This highlights the range of opinions within the Democratic party regarding foreign policy and interventionism.
These events raise questions about the role of lawyers in representing controversial figures and the potential conflicts of interest that may arise when attorneys are also political donors. It also underscores the ongoing debate about the appropriate role of the United States in international affairs and the balance between promoting democracy and respecting national sovereignty.
