Maduro and his wife plead not guilty at first court appearance since capture in Venezuela
NEW YORK (NBC and CNN) -- Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty on Monday in a New York court after their capture by U.S. forces. They face serious charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offenses.
The court appearance comes after the U.S. captured Maduro and Flores in a surprise operation late Friday.
Maduro claimed in court, "I am the president of the Republic of Venezuela and I am here kidnapped since Jan. 3, Saturday. I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela." His assertion emphasizes the controversial nature of their capture and the tensions surrounding their leadership.
At the very end of Maduro's arraignment, he turned to wave at the crowd, prompting a man to stand up and share a message to the ousted Venezuelan leader.
"You will pay on behalf of Venezuela," the person said.
In response, Maduro said: "In the name of God, I will be free."
The next court hearing in the case will be March 17 at 11 a.m., Judge Alvin Hellerstein said.
Nicolás Maduro gathered his papers and stopped to look at the gallery before he was escorted out of the courtroom along with his wife.
In response to the ongoing situation, President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. is "in charge" of Venezuela and issued a warning to its interim leader regarding consequences for non-cooperation.
Click here for live updates from CNN.
CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said the former Venezuelan leader “seems to be answering a little bit more than the judge is asking for.”
For example, when entering a plea, Maduro said, “I am innocent, I am not guilty.” He also added that he was “a decent man.” When he was asked by the judge to confirm his name, Maduro said he was the president of Venezuela and said he was captured at his home.
When answers and responses are going through a translator, “it’s harder for a judge to control the proceedings, because if someone’s speaking in English, the judge can just cut them off if he’s saying too much,” Honig said.
In this case, the judge has to wait for everything to be translated. “So we’ll see to what extent Maduro is disciplined and stays within the parameters of the court,” Honig added.
Where things stand
• Maduro in court: A defiant Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores entered not guilty pleas in their first court appearance in New York after being captured in a US military operation. The ousted leader, who faces drugs and weapons charges, told the judge he’s “still the president of Venezuela.” The couple is not seeking bail for now. Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.
• Venezuela’s uncertain future: President Donald Trump said the US, which has not recognized Maduro as the country’s legitimate leader, is “in charge,” as acting president Delcy Rodríguez called for “cooperation” with the US. Trump previously said he’s counting on American companies to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry. Meanwhile, Venezuelans are hunkering down amid apprehension of what may come next.
• Trump’s threats: Trump implied he could take military action in Colombia, told Mexico to get its “act together” on drugs, and said the US “needs Greenland.”
Cilia Flores sustained “significant injuries” this weekend when she was captured in Venezuela during a US military operation, her lawyer told the federal judge overseeing her criminal case.
Her attorney, Mark Donnelly, told senior US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein his client sustained “significant injuries during her abduction” this weekend and suggested she may have a fracture or severe bruising on her ribs and would need a physical evaluation.
The comments came just after Flores and her husband, the ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, pleaded not guilty to a series of federal charges at a New York courthouse Monday afternoon.
CNN reporters at the courthouse saw bandages on Flores’ head during the proceeding.
