Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York federal court Monday and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including drug trafficking and weapons offenses, just days after being captured by U.S. military forces.
The couple was brought under heavy security from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn via helicopter to Manhattan before being escorted to the courthouse by motorcade.
Maduro told the court through an interpreter, “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty — I’m a decent man,” while asserting that he is “still president of my country.”
Legal Representation and Next Steps
Maduro is represented by Barry Pollack, known for representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, while Flores is represented by Mark Donnelly, a Texas-based attorney. Neither is currently seeking bail, though their lawyers indicated they may consider it in the future. The next court proceeding is scheduled for March 17.
Both defendants are receiving medical attention: Pollack noted that Maduro has health issues, while Flores’ lawyer said she may have sustained fractured or severely bruised ribs during her capture.
Charges and Allegations
Maduro faces four counts of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons-related offenses. A recently unsealed indictment adds four co-defendants, including Maduro’s son and Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello. Prosecutors allege that Maduro’s government has engaged in corruption and narcotics trafficking for over 25 years, collaborating with cartels such as Tren de Aragua to send thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S.
Federal authorities contend Maduro enriched himself, his family, and top government officials while fostering narco-terrorist activity within Venezuela. The original indictment against Maduro dates back to March 2020, with the new indictment expanding charges and naming additional co-defendants.
Political Fallout
Following Maduro’s capture, Delcy Rodríguez, his former vice president and close confidante, was sworn in as interim president of Venezuela. Meanwhile, protests and international reactions have continued, reflecting the global attention this high-profile case has generated.
This court appearance marks the start of what could be months of legal proceedings leading up to a potential criminal trial for the ousted Venezuelan leader and his wife.