Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, entered not guilty pleas during their first appearance before a United States federal court, days after being captured in a US military operation and flown out of Caracas. Appearing before a judge in New York, both strongly denied the charges against them, with Maduro asserting that he continues to be the legitimate president of Venezuela despite his detention.
Maduro, who appeared in prison clothing with shackles around his ankles, faced the court under heavy security and pleaded not guilty to a sweeping set of narcotics and weapons-related charges that could potentially result in a life sentence. Through an interpreter, he rejected all allegations, describing himself as innocent and law-abiding, and reiterated his claim to Venezuela’s presidency. Flores, who is charged alongside him but does not face the narco-terrorism count, also pleaded not guilty and declared that she had committed no crimes.
A courtroom sketch from the proceedings depicted Maduro standing surrounded by US marshals, wearing headphones to follow the hearing, with lawyers seated nearby. Observers noted that he appeared tense yet defiant, holding a legal pad as the proceedings unfolded in a packed courtroom. His wife was escorted into the courtroom shortly after him, also under tight security, as the judge began formal proceedings.
Maduro was transported to the Manhattan federal courthouse from a detention facility in Brooklyn shortly after noon on Monday. Upon entering the courtroom, he briefly greeted his defence lawyer before taking his seat. US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein presided over the hearing, stating that the court’s responsibility was to ensure fairness and due process. Television cameras were not permitted inside the courtroom, and journalists and members of the public followed the hearing through overflow rooms.
The appearance followed Maduro’s dramatic capture on Saturday during what US President Donald Trump described as a large-scale military operation inside Venezuela. The operation, which reportedly involved explosions and military action in Caracas, triggered widespread political unrest across the country. Maduro and Flores were subsequently flown to the United States to face federal charges, marking one of the most controversial US interventions in the region in decades.
The 63-year-old Venezuelan leader faces four major criminal counts, including conspiracy to engage in narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Each of these charges carries the possibility of life imprisonment if he is convicted. Flores faces similar allegations, excluding the narco-terrorism charge. The court scheduled the next hearing in the case for March 17.
Maduro’s defence lawyer, Barry J. Pollack, told the court that the legal team would aggressively challenge what he described as a “military abduction,” arguing that Maduro is entitled to immunity as the head of a sovereign state. Pollack indicated that the defence would file extensive pretrial motions questioning the legality of the operation that led to Maduro’s arrest and transfer to US custody.
The United States has refused to recognise Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader since his 2018 re-election, which Washington maintains was deeply flawed and illegitimate. His arrest and appearance in a US courtroom have intensified political tensions both inside Venezuela and internationally. Outside the courthouse, rival groups of demonstrators gathered, with Maduro’s supporters condemning US actions and his opponents celebrating what they view as the collapse of his rule.
Maduro remains in US custody as the case moves forward, setting the stage for a lengthy and closely watched legal battle that is expected to raise complex questions about international law, sovereignty, and the limits of US power abroad.
