U.S. court nixes bid by Maduro ally to dismiss money laundering charges

FILE PHOTO: A demonstrator of the "Free Alex Saab" movement participates in a rally in front of the National Assembly of Venezuela demanding the release of Saab, a Colombian businessman with Venezuelan ties who was extradited to the U.S. on a charge of money laundering, in Caracas, Venezuela December 16, 2022. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

(Reuters) -A U.S. judge dealt a blow on Friday to Alex Saab Moran, a Colombia-born businessman accused in a corruption scheme involving Venezuela's ruling Socialists, by rejecting his assertion of diplomatic immunity.

The judge formally denied a motion filed by lawyers representing Saab Moran, an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, to dismiss his criminal indictment on the basis of his claim he was protected as a Venezuelan diplomat, according to a court filing.