Nicolás Maduro appeared relaxed in the Southern District Court of New York this Monday, smiling at times, engaging in constant dialogue with his attorneys, taking notes, and appearing ready to defend himself against narcoterrorism charges by pleading “not guilty.”
The arraignment hearing began shortly after 12:30 p.m. in Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s courtroom, who started by asking Maduro to confirm his identity to begin the proceedings. “Happy New Year,” Maduro said before the hearing started.
“I am Nicolás Maduro, constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and I was kidnapped on January 3,” Maduro stated. “I am a prisoner of war and I invoke the Vienna Convention as a prisoner of war.”
The former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro will remain detained in New York and will appear again before the court on March 17, 2026
Days after being detained in Caracas by the U.S. military, the Chavista leader pleaded not guilty to the four charges against him, including narcoterrorism, in his first appearance before a federal court
His wife, Cilia Flores, was seated next to Maduro, separated only by one of the defense attorneys. She also pleaded “not guilty” and introduced herself as “the First Lady of the Republic of Venezuela.”
“I was captured in my home during an intervention…,” Maduro said at one point, but the judge interrupted him, reminding him he would have an opportunity to speak, noting that the hearing was for the reading of charges and how Maduro would plead.
Judge Hellerstein summarized the charges against Maduro: 1) narcoterrorism conspiracy, 2) conspiracy to import and export narcotics, 3) violent drug-related crime and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and 4) conspiracy to commit a violent drug-related crime, possession of weapons, including machine guns and destructive devices.
He then asked Maduro if he had read the indictment against him. The now former president of Venezuela said he was familiar with the document but only had a summary of it.
“I have it in my hands for the first time,” Maduro said. Nevertheless, he pleaded “innocent,” stating he was “not guilty” of the charges.
The judge asked Flores the same question, noting she was accused of charges two, three, and four. She also pleaded “innocent,” meaning “not guilty.”
Judge Hellerstein asked both Maduro and his wife if they wanted the full indictment read to them. Both declined and maintained their “not guilty” pleas.
“I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country,” Maduro insisted, but the judge focused on hearing his plea.
The former president was dressed in khaki pants, a navy-blue T-shirt over an orange one. He was not handcuffed.
A broader case
Barry Pollack represents Maduro, a renowned attorney known for defending Julian Assange; Cilia Flores is represented by Mark Donnelly and Andrés Sánchez, as stated by Pollack during his introduction.
Maduro is the second defendant in the case led by Hugo Armando Carvajal-Barrios. Cilia Flores is the eighth defendant.
The same case includes Diosdado Cabello Rondón, Clíver Antonio Alcalá Cordones (a closed case in 2024), Luciano Marín Arango, Seuxis Paucis Hernández Solarte (closed in 2022), Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, and Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores.
Prosecutors agreed to the defense’s request—and the judge approved—that Maduro and his wife meet with Venezuelan consular representatives before the next hearing, scheduled for March 17, 2026.
Maduro was also granted medical monitoring, and his wife was allowed medical attention, as her attorney claims she may have broken ribs following the U.S. military operation in Caracas.
Maduro also asked Judge Hellerstein for permission to keep the notes he took during the hearing. The judge agreed, and prosecutors indicated they would ensure the marshals allowed it.
As he left the courtroom, a man shouted at the former president, saying he would “pay” for what he did to Venezuela. Maduro responded, “In the name of God, I will be free.”
Image: Opinion
