Maduro pleads not guilty declaring 'I am president of my country'
發佈日期: 2026-01-06 20:49
TVB News
A defiant Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela.
He said he was the constitutional president of his country during his appearance at a Southern District court in Manhattan, with his wife Cilia Flores.
The case unfolds against a diplomatic backdrop of a US-engineered regime change that President Donald Trump says enables Washington to "run" Venezuela.
He wished reporters Happy New Year, he wore a headset to listen to proceedings in Spanish, and declared himself "president of my country."
Nicolas Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges at a Manhattan court on Monday.
Making copious notes, Maduro said during the arraignment that he was kidnapped, before being stopped by 92-year-old US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who said he could bring it up at a later time.
In the same manner in which they were brought to the court, the couple were later taken away under armed guard.
The charges include working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tonnes of cocaine into the US.
They are also accused of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money. They could face life in prison if convicted.
Outside the courthouse, police were forced to separate those supporting Maduro and pro-intervention protesters.
His lawyers are expected to argue that Maduro is immune to prosecution as head of a sovereign state, with one law expert likening Maduro's capture to the finding and killing of alleged 911 mastermind Osama Bin Laden.
"The (US) viewpoint is we are not looking at the president of Venezuela, we are looking at a terrorist under US law and therefore we can detain him wherever or wherever we can," said criminal defence lawyer Ilan Katz.
Meanwhile in Venezuela, former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in on Monday as Interim President.
"Let us swear as one country to move Venezuela forward in these terrible times," she said.
This as US President Donald Trump says no elections will be held over the next 30 days because the country is not ready.
