Ryan Lucas

Court papers identify the defendant as Alexander Heifler.

He's facing one count of unlawful possession of firearms and one count of unlawful making of firearms.

Court papers say Heifler discussed with an undercover law enforcement officer his desire to build firebombs.

The two later put together eight Molotov cocktails.

which Heifler allegedly said would be thrown into a certain individual's home.

Court papers don't name the individual, but a law enforcement official confirms to NPR the target of the alleged plot was pro-Palestinian activist Nardine Kaswani.

In a post on X, Kaswani says the FBI has informed her that they had taken action to disrupt a plot against her life.

She also says she won't stop speaking up for the Palestinian people.

Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

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.

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