By Arjun Singh, Sam Dorman, Nicholas Zifcak
Contributing Writers
NEW YORK CITY — Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty during a historic arraignment in Manhattan where he faces an indictment on various conspiracy charges, as well as the potential for decades in prison.
The former dictator entered a Manhattan courtroom on Monday around 12:01 p.m. ET, and could be seen wearing his blue prison uniform. Both he and his wife wore headsets to hear translations of the proceedings.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein offered a summary of the indictment before both Maduro and his wife declined to hear it read in full. The couple did not seek bail but requested the ability to seek it at a future date. Maduro told Hellerstein he had spoken with his attorney and would like a consular visit.
When asked by Hellerstein what his plea was, Maduro, 63, responded: “I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country.”
Maduro was then asked for his plea a second time and said, “I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here.”
Like her husband, Flores maintained her innocence. Through an interpreter, she said, “I am first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.”
“Not guilty,” she continued. “Completely innocent.”
Their appearance marked their rapid descent from leading one of the largest oil-producing nations just days prior.
Although Maduro was indicted under the first Trump administration, he didn’t enter U.S. custody until Saturday, when the U.S. military conducted a surprise strike on the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. A government attorney said that the two were taken into custody at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, and their plane landed in New York that same day at 4:31 p.m.
Shortly after news of Maduro’s capture, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a new indictment targeting both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said in a post on social media.
The indictment names two other Venezuelan politicians: Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello and a former governor, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín. It also names Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom the indictment describes as a leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
“The defendants, together and with others, engaged in a relentless campaign of cocaine trafficking throughout the time period charged in this superseding indictment, resulting in the distribution of thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States,” the indictment reads.
They’re charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess those items.
Maduro said during the Monday hearing that he had not read the indictment and had not been informed of his rights. “Your honor is informing me of them now,” he said.
The brief hearing ended after input from both Maduro’s attorney and his wife’s, Mark Donnelly, who said Flores, 69, had a damaged rib that needed to be x-rayed. Donnelly said that he believed Flores suffered “significant injuries” during her capture. Hellerstein directed prosecutors to ensure Flores received care.
Maduro engaged with an audience member in the courtroom who said he was a victim of Maduro’s regime. Pedro Rojas, a 33-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who came to the United States in 2019, was in the audience and told Maduro, “In the name of the people of Venezuela, you will pay.”
Rojas said he had been imprisoned in Venezuela and called Maduro an “illegitimate” president.
“I am a kidnapped president,” Maduro shot back in Spanish as he was escorted by deputy U.S. marshals. “I am a prisoner of war. And I’m a man of God.”
Rojas was scolded by the marshal in charge, but was not arrested.
During the hearing, Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, raised questions about the legality of Maduro’s arrest and said that his client was “the head of a sovereign state and entitled to privilege.” Previewing the coming litigation, Pollack said there would be “voluminous” pretrial filings.
There are “questions about the legality of his military abduction,” he said.
Maduro and Flores will remain behind bars pending trial. The next court date has been scheduled for March 17.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
