Nicolás Maduro Arrives at the Manhattan Federal Court for his First Hearing
Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were transferred from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn to a field outside the city, where they boarded a helicopter pictured below that took them to a helipad near the federal courthouse in southern New York.
Monday’s appearance marks the first time Maduro has appeared before U.S. justice, after the Justice Department made a formal indictment public last Saturday. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived Monday at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, New York, where they will make their first court appearance, scheduled for 12:00 PM local time (5:00 PM GMT). Maduro was captured on Saturday, January 3, in Caracas and subsequently extradited to the United States. He and Flores were taken from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn to a field outside the city, where they boarded a helicopter that flew them to a helipad near the courthouse.
A destroyed anti-aircraft unit at La Carlota military air base in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3
The helicopter landed minutes later near the courthouse. They were then escorted in a five-vehicle convoy, under heavy police guard, to the courthouse, according to images broadcast by U.S. media. Police closed several surrounding streets during the security operation. Maduro, escorted by agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), descended with great difficulty and had to be helped by the agents into an armored vehicle that took him to the courthouse. Monday’s appearance marks the first time Maduro has appeared before a U.S. court since the Justice Department unsealed a formal indictment against him on Saturday for drug trafficking-related offenses, originally filed in 2020.
People look for personal belongings through the rubble of a building in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, January 4
This expanded indictment reiterates the charges against Maduro, the main defendant, for conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to use those weapons. But, for the first time, the indictment includes Cilia Flores, Maduro’s wife, whom the prosecution alleges, based on its investigation, played a role in coordinating meetings and providing logistical support for the network. According to prosecutors, his inclusion broadens the scope of the case and supports the theory that drug trafficking was part of a network organized at the highest levels of Venezuelan power. The case is being heard in the Southern District of New York by 92-year-old U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. Following the initial hearing, the court is expected to determine the next steps in the proceedings, including the conditions of detention and the court schedule.
Nicolás Maduro and his Wife, Cilia Flores, Plead Innocent of All Charges
The next hearing will be on March 17 at 11 a.m. in a room to be determined. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty on Monday to all charges against them during their first appearance before the Southern District Court of New York (SDNY), according to news reporters. Both were transferred to the federal court in Manhattan under heavy security. During the hearing, the judge asked Maduro to identify himself, to which he replied: “I am the president of Venezuela and I consider myself a prisoner of war. I was captured in my home in Caracas,” he stated. “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man,” Maduro declared when questioned in court.
The Venezuelan leader claimed he had not seen the charges against him before appearing in court and was unaware of his rights. Shortly afterwards, Flores declared himself “not guilty, completely innocent”. The U.S. Department of Justice accuses Maduro and Flores of drug trafficking-related charges, including “narco-terrorism” and conspiracy to introduce large quantities of cocaine into U.S. territory. If found guilty, they both could face life in prison. The indictment, signed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, also includes other high-ranking Venezuelan government officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, as well as the president’s son, for alleged links to criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the FARC.
Lawyer Barry Pollack, known for having represented Julian Assange, was announced as the legal defender of Maduro and Flores. Pollack stated in the New York court that “for the moment he will not request bail” for the president, although he did not rule out doing so later. In addition, the lawyers requested medical attention for both of them because, they said, they have “health problems”. Attorney Mark Donnelly stated that Flores “suffered significant injuries during his kidnapping” and suggested he may have a fractured or severely bruised rib.
The hearing marks the beginning of a legal process that could last for more than a year. Although the first hearing was held in New York, former President Donald Trump suggested that the eventual trial could be held in Miami or another jurisdiction in Florida. While the hearing was taking place, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan building in Manhattan, some demanding Maduro’s release and others supporting the actions of the U.S. government.
