Maduro and Flores plead not guilty in Manhattan federal court

Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, former president and first girl of Venezuela, made temporary statements throughout their arraignment within the US District Court docket for the Southern District of New York Monday.

The couple pleaded not responsible to all costs levied in opposition to them in a brand new indictment, which alleges narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and two weapons costs. Maduro is charged with all 4 crimes. Flores is accused of cocaine importation and the weapons costs, however not narco-terrorism, the cost that carries the biggest sentence. The indictment names 4 others, who weren’t arraigned in the present day.

“I’m president of the Republic of Venezuela… I used to be captured at my dwelling in Caracas, Venezuela. I’m a kidnapped president, prisoner of conflict. I’m harmless. I’m not responsible. I’m an honest man,” stated Maduro.

US District Decide Alvin Hellerstein interrupted Maduro, saying that the courtroom will talk about “the authorized sufficiency of what was completed” later.  The subsequent listening to is scheduled for March 17.

Maduro’s legal professional, Barry Pollack, stated that there are “points in regards to the legality of his navy abduction.”

Flores stated, “I’m First Girl of the Republic of Venezuela.” When requested for her plea on the three costs that she faces, she replied, “Not responsible — utterly harmless.”

Early Saturday morning, US forces attacked Venezuelan capital Caracas and captured Maduro and Flores. They had been transported to the US and held in Metropolitan Detention Middle, Brooklyn, awaiting arraignment. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim president.

Maduro was initially indicted within the Southern District of New York in 2020. Throughout US President Donald Trump’s first time period, the US State Division initially supplied a $15 million reward for info resulting in Maduro’s arrest. Former US president Joe Biden’s administration elevated the reward to $25 million on January 10, 2025. The reward elevated once more, to $50 million, on August 7, 2025. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio doesn’t imagine that Maduro is legally the president of Venezuela.