Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared in a federal courtroom in Lower Manhattan on Monday, where he insisted that he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela and described his arrest as a “kidnapping” carried out during a U.S. military raid in Caracas.
Maduro and his wife, who were both captured during the operation two days earlier, formally pleaded not guilty to a range of serious charges, including drug trafficking and other criminal offenses. Speaking through an interpreter, Maduro firmly denied all allegations when questioned by Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
“I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” Maduro told the court. He went on to declare, “I am a decent man. I am still president of my country,” reinforcing his claim that he continues to hold legitimate authority in Venezuela despite his detention.
The dramatic court appearance has intensified global attention on the unprecedented operation that led to Maduro’s capture and removal from Venezuela, with political leaders and analysts worldwide closely watching the unfolding legal and diplomatic consequences of the case.
