Former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on Monday pleaded not guilty to multiple federal drug trafficking charges during his first court appearance in the United States.
Maduro, who was recently removed from power and transferred to U.S. custody, appeared before a federal court in New York just days after arriving in the country. The charges carry the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if he is convicted.
During the arraignment, Maduro insisted on his innocence, repeatedly asserting that he remains Venezuela’s legitimate leader. His comments were curtailed by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who presided over the proceedings.
“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man,” Maduro told the court, adding that he still considers himself president of Venezuela before the judge intervened.
The hearing marked the formal reading of charges and allowed the former leader to enter a plea. His wife, Cilia Flores, who faces related allegations, was also present in court and similarly pleaded not guilty.
When asked to identify himself, Maduro stated his name and declared his claim to Venezuela’s presidency, alleging he was captured at his residence in Venezuela. The judge again interrupted to redirect the proceedings.
Maduro told the court he was aware of the indictment but had not yet read it in full, noting he had only partially reviewed it with his legal counsel. He declined to have the charges read aloud, opting instead to examine them personally.
He is being represented by U.S. attorney Barry Pollack, a prominent defense lawyer known for previously representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a high-profile Espionage Act case.
After the court outlined Maduro’s constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and to legal representation, the former leader remarked that he had not previously been informed of those protections.
The case marks a significant escalation in U.S. legal action against the former Venezuelan leader and is expected to draw intense international scrutiny as proceedings continue.