Nicolás Maduro Asserts Innocence and War Prisoner Status in Federal Court Hearing

In a dramatic federal court hearing in New York, Nicolás Maduro, the current president of Venezuela, proclaimed his innocence and presented himself as a prisoner of war. During a quick initial hearing before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to serious charges including narcoterrorism and possession of weapons. Captured by U.S. forces on January 3, Maduro defended his position, asserting, 'I am innocent, I am decent, I am not guilty.' He insisted on his legitimacy as Venezuela’s leader, despite a recent process by the National Assembly that appointed Delcy Rodríguez as the new head of state. Maduro portrayed his situation as a political abduction, a claim that underscores his contentious relationship with the U.S. government. He referred to himself as a victim of an operation carried out by U.S. agents, framing the charges against him as politically motivated. During the brief court session, he made it clear that he and his wife reject all allegations of narcoterrorism conspiracy and weapon possession. The preliminary hearing is set to continue in the coming weeks, with both Maduro and Flores ordered to return to court on March 17. They will remain in provisional detention—a situation that has persisted since their capture. The lawyer representing Maduro, Barry Pollack, who previously defended Julian Assange, opted not to request bail during the initial hearing but hinted that such a request could be made later. This legal battle promises to capture international attention as it unfolds, particularly given the geopolitical dynamics surrounding Venezuela and its leadership under Maduro, who has remained a polarizing figure since assuming power. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2