Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, made their first court appearance at a Manhattan courthouse on Monday, pleading not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and gun running, as alleged by the U.S. government.
The couple was captured early Saturday morning by U.S. military agents during a high-stakes operation in Venezuela. They were swiftly flown to New York, where they faced a judge in a packed courtroom alongside a team of legal representatives.
During the proceedings, Maduro proclaimed his innocence, asserting, “I am the President of a sovereign nation” and firmly rejecting all charges against him. Celia Flores echoed her husband’s stance, also entering a not guilty plea.
After the initial pleadings, the judge ordered the couple to remain in custody pending their next court appearance, scheduled for March.
Details of the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Maduro and Flores have begun to emerge. Reports indicate that the operation commenced just after 10 PM on Friday and involved multiple strikes on military stockpiles and government security facilities in Venezuela. Within two hours, Maduro and Flores were apprehended and transported out of the country, leading to violent encounters that reportedly left many members of their security teams dead.
In the wake of their capture, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been sworn in as interim president, as the U.S. faces growing international criticism over the military operation. At a press conference on Saturday, the U.S. President announced that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela until a stable transition could be achieved. He also mentioned plans for major oil companies to assist in repairing the country’s oil facilities.
Since the military operation, U.S. officials have provided varying explanations regarding the future governance of Venezuela, raising questions and concerns among international communities. The United Nations Security Council convened a special meeting where many member states condemned the U.S. actions, calling for respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As the international community watches closely, the implications of this unprecedented military intervention and ensuing legal battles for Maduro and Flores remain to be seen.
