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Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty Monday to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges in a Manhattan federal court, declaring himself "a decent man" and insisting he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela two days after US forces captured him at his home in Caracas.
The 63-year-old appeared before Judge Alvin Hellerstein at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan courthouse wearing an orange shirt, blue overshirt, beige trousers and orange slippers. Speaking in Spanish through an interpreter, Maduro told the court he had been "kidnapped" and seized from his residence in Venezuela's capital.
"I am not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still the president of my country," Maduro said when asked to enter his plea on four federal counts, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons possession charges.
Maduro's wife and co-defendant, Cilia Flores, 69, sat two seats away from him in similar prison clothing. When called to stand, she identified herself as "the first lady of Venezuela" before entering her own plea.
"Not guilty, completely innocent," Flores told Judge Hellerstein. She faces cocaine conspiracy and weapons charges stemming from allegations she accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes around 2007 to broker meetings between drug traffickers and Venezuelan anti-drug officials.
During the hearing, Maduro revealed he had only received the indictment moments before entering the courtroom and had not been informed of his legal rights, suggesting limited time to consult with his attorney. When Judge Hellerstein offered to read the charges aloud, Maduro responded that he would "rather read it personally."
Court observers noted Maduro's visible discomfort during proceedings. He fidgeted in his chair, occasionally clasping his hands in a prayer-like gesture and bowing his head while his wife stood nearby. At times he appeared to make rapid statements in Spanish before Judge Hellerstein interrupted, reminding him that "there will be time and place to get into all of this."
The prosecutor disclosed that the defendants entered law enforcement custody at 11:30 a.m. on January 3 but made no mention of the military raid on foreign soil that led to their apprehension. Both Maduro and Flores requested consular visits, which the judge confirmed would be arranged.
Maduro arrived at a Manhattan heliport earlier Monday under heavy security via helicopter from Venezuela, then was transferred to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. Defense lawyer Barry Pollack, who previously represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, entered an appearance to represent Maduro. Flores is being represented by Mark Donnelly, a former federal prosecutor.
The 25-page federal indictment, brought by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, refers to Maduro as the "illegitimate ruler" of Venezuela due to fraudulent election results. Prosecutors allege he partnered with narcotics traffickers and narco-terrorist groups to import tons of cocaine into the United States over more than 25 years.
"This cycle of narcotics-based corruption lines the pockets of Venezuelan officials and their families while also benefiting violent narco-terrorists who operate with impunity on Venezuelan soil," the indictment states.
The 92-year-old Judge Hellerstein, who emphasized his role was "to ensure a fair proceeding and a fair trial," is expected to order both defendants held without bond pending trial. The case also names several other defendants not in US custody, including Maduro's son Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondon, and Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, identified as leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton told CNBC Monday morning that prosecutors are "completely comfortable with this prosecution." The Trump administration has faced questions about the capture given President Donald Trump's recent pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was convicted in 2024 on similar drug trafficking charges.
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