India, Jan. 5 -- In a move that signals a high-stakes legal battle ahead, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, facing trial in the US after his "capture" in a military operation, has reportedly hired prominent lawyer Barry J Pollack to lead his defence.

A Washington-based trial lawyer known for representing high-profile and controversial figures, Pollack most famously negotiated the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

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He will defend Maduro against federal charges in Manhattan, New York, according to a Bloomberg report. He filed a notice of appearance on Monday in the Court for the Southern District of New York where Maduro faces a series of grave indictments, including narco-terrorism and cocaine import co...