‘I am not guilty. I am still president of my country’: Maduro in New York court
Venezuelan leader enters not guilty pleas to narco-terrorism and trafficking charges amid global controversy after U.S. military operation
NEW YORK (MNTV) — Nicolás Maduro, the kidnapped president of Venezuela, made an extraordinary first appearance in a U.S. federal court in New York on January 5, 2026, where he entered not guilty pleas to multiple narcotics and weapons charges.
His appearance followed his capture in Caracas during a pre-dawn strike by United States military earlier in the week, triggering intense legal and diplomatic controversy.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transported under heavy security from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
The proceedings began with the defendants being formally advised of charges stemming from a superseding indictment filed originally in 2020 and updated after their capture.
The indictment accuses Maduro, Flores, and several others — including Maduro’s son and senior Venezuelan officials — of leading a decades-long “narco-terrorism conspiracy” to import cocaine into the United States.
The indictment also included possessing machine guns and destructive devices and participating in a conspiracy to possess such weapons.
Prosecutors allege Maduro used his office to “corrupt institutions” and facilitate trafficking operations with transnational criminal groups.
Appearing with a translator, Maduro rejected the charges and the legality of his presence in a U.S. court, declaring himself Venezuela’s legitimate president and asserting he had been “kidnapped” unlawfully by American forces during a military strike on January 3.
The operation, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, included strikes across northern Venezuela and the rapid seizure of Maduro and his wife from Caracas.
Maduro’s defense team, led by veteran attorney Barry Pollack, said it will file motions challenging U.S. jurisdiction and the legality of his capture.
The lawyers are expected to argue that Maduro is entitled to sovereign immunity and was removed from Venezuelan territory without a formal extradition process.
International law experts have noted that, under U.S. case law, a court may retain jurisdiction regardless of how a defendant is brought into the country — a doctrine that could limit Maduro’s legal arguments.
Outside the courthouse, crowds of journalists and onlookers gathered as the former leader was escorted into the courtroom, highlighting the extraordinary nature of a sitting or recent head of state appearing before a foreign judicial system.
The legal proceedings are unfolding amid sharp diplomatic backlash over the United States’ actions.
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, condemned the U.S. strike as a violation of national sovereignty while indicating openness to a “balanced and respectful” relationship with Washington.
International organizations and multiple governments have expressed concern over the developments.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned of potential regional instability and called for a peaceful resolution, while Russia, China, and Cuba condemned the attack as unlawful military interference.
Judge Hellerstein ordered Maduro to remain in custody pending a March 17 hearing, setting the stage for what is likely to be a prolonged and contentious legal battle that intersects questions of international law, sovereign immunity, and the reach of U.S. criminal jurisdiction.
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