Maduro appears in New York court: I am still President

WISE NEWS PRESS / NEW YORK, USA

Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro appeared before a New York federal judge for the first time on Monday, pleading not guilty to multiple counts of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

The court appearance follows a high-stakes US operation on Saturday that captured Maduro in Caracas and transported him to New York to face long-standing federal indictments. Speaking through a Spanish interpreter, Maduro asserted his innocence and challenged the legitimacy of the proceedings, stating, "I am an honorable man. I am still the president of my country".

Federal charges and narco-terrorism allegations

The updated indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court charges Maduro with four major crimes: narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Prosecutors allege that for over two decades, Maduro led a vast drug-trafficking network in partnership with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, as well as Colombian FARC rebels. The charges also extend to Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, who pleaded not guilty alongside him, as prosecutors argue the network used the Venezuelan state apparatus to facilitate large-scale cocaine shipments.

Defense strategy and presidential immunity

Maduro is represented by Barry Pollack, the high-profile attorney who previously defended WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The defense is expected to argue that Maduro holds international immunity as a head of state, exempting him from prosecution in US courts. However, the US government maintains that Maduro is an illegitimate leader following the contested 2018 elections and views him as a "dictator" rather than a recognized sovereign head.

International concerns and UN warnings

The legal action has sparked debate at the United Nations, where Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern regarding the adherence to international law during the military action in Caracas. Guterres warned that the US operation could set a dangerous precedent for future state-to-state relations and voiced fears over the impact on Venezuela's internal stability. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for March 17.

Deposed leader Nicolas Maduro transported by helicopter under heavy security in New York. 

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