Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday during his first court appearance in the United States, days after being detained and transferred to New York to face federal charges.
Maduro appeared before a federal judge in Manhattan alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, who also entered a not guilty plea. Both defendants listened to the proceedings through Spanish translation headsets during the brief arraignment.
When asked to respond to the charges, Maduro declared in court that he was innocent, prompting his defense counsel to formally enter a plea of not guilty on all counts. The judge limited Maduro’s attempts to address the court, noting that there would be time for arguments at later stages of the case.
U.S. prosecutors have charged Maduro with multiple offenses, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons-related allegations. Flores faces similar charges tied to drug trafficking and weapons conspiracies. Authorities allege the activities span several years, an assertion the defendants strongly deny.
Maduro’s legal team is expected to challenge the legality of his arrest and argue that he is immune from prosecution as a sitting head of state. The United States does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president following disputed elections, a position prosecutors say undermines claims of sovereign immunity.
The arrests followed a U.S.-led operation in Caracas that American officials have described as a law enforcement action rather than a declaration of war. The case has drawn sharp international reaction, with some governments criticizing the operation and others urging respect for judicial proceedings.
Maduro remains in U.S. custody as the case moves forward. The court is expected to schedule further hearings in the coming weeks, setting the stage for a prolonged legal fight that could test the limits of international law, jurisdiction, and presidential immunity.
