Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro made his first appearance in a New York courtroom, declaring he’s still the country’s president despite facing sweeping criminal charges in the US.
Appearing before the court on drug trafficking and related allegations, Maduro rejected the accusations, saying “I am still president” and “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I’m a decent man, the president of my country,” through an interpreter.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who was seized alongside him, pleaded not guilty to charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
The indictment lists four counts, marking one of the most serious criminal cases ever brought against a sitting foreign leader in a US court.
Outside the courthouse, protesters gathered, waving Venezuelan flags and holding placards, transforming the area into a flashpoint for competing narratives about power, sovereignty, and accountability.
Maduro’s lawyer plans to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing he’s immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of state.
The case is set to test the reach of US justice and amplify political tensions surrounding Venezuela’s leadership.
Maduro’s next court date is scheduled for March 17
