‘I Am a Prisoner of War’: Venezuela’s Maduro Asserts His Innocence in First U.S. Court Appearance

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a New York court on Monday, calling himself a “decent man” and “a prisoner of war” as he made his first U.S. court appearance since he was captured by American forces over the weekend.

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Maduro is accused of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, among other charges. His wife, Cilia Flores, and son, Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, have also been charged, as have other Venezuelan officials. They could face life sentences if convicted.

Read More: Who Is Cilia Flores? What to Know About Maduro’s Wife Amid Fall of Venezuela’s First Couple

The deposed Venezuelan leader repeatedly proclaimed his innocence during the arraignment, which took place shortly after noon on Monday. “I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here,” Maduro said, wearing a blue prison uniform, before Judge Alvin K Hellerstein.

Flores entered her own not guilty plea after her husband. “Not guilty. Completely innocent,” she said. 

Maduro also asserted that he remains the leader of Venezuela, saying, “I am still president of my country.” Flores similarly called herself the “first lady of the Republic of Venezuela” before entering her plea.

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Maduro’s lawyers are expected to argue that he is immune from prosecution due to his position as the president of a foreign state. The U.S., however, does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, having rejected his last two electoral victories. 

Near the end of the hearing, Maduro attorney Barry J. Pollack said that his client was “head of a sovereign state and entitled to the privilege” of such a position and that “voluminous” filings related to the “legality of his military abduction” would precede a trial. 

The court proceedings lasted just under 30 minutes, and Maduro and Flores agreed to remain in custody for the time being. Flores’s attorney Mark Donelly said that she required medical attention due to injuries to her ribs. 

Read More: Who is Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s New Leader?

Maduro’s next court date is set for March 17.

As he exited the courtroom, a man called Maduro “illegitimate,” to which Maduro responded in Spanish, “I am a kidnapped president,” and called himself “a prisoner of war.” 

Also on Monday, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was officially sworn in as the country’s interim president. Rodríguez has served as the nation’s vice president since 2018, and was named by Trump on Saturday as the most likely candidate to succeed Maduro.

“She, I think, was quite gracious, but she really doesn’t have a choice,” Trump said on Saturday. “She is essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again. Very simple.”

Rodríguez, though, stressed that Maduro is still Venezuela’s president and criticized America’s actions in the country.

“I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland,” she said, as reported by The Associated Press. “I come with sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes.”