Maduro Denies All Charges, Calls Himself “Prisoner of War” in U.S. Court
Nicolás Maduro U.S. court appearance: Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in Manhattan
LOS ANGELES, CA — MB Daily News
Nicolás Maduro U.S. court appearance grabbed national attention Monday as Maduro entered a Manhattan federal courtroom and pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, prosecutors laid out a sweeping narcotrafficking case, and defense lawyers promised a hard fight over immunity and the legality of his capture.
Quick Summary
- Not-guilty plea: Maduro denied all allegations in his first U.S. court hearing.
- Charges: Prosecutors say a decades-long cocaine-trafficking conspiracy fueled the case, along with weapons-related counts.
- Next phase: Lawyers will battle over immunity and capture issues before the court sets a trial schedule.
Nicolás Maduro U.S. court appearance: What Happened in the Courtroom
Maduro walked into the courtroom in custody and took his seat beside counsel. He then spoke through a Spanish interpreter and insisted he committed no crimes. However, the judge redirected him and explained that the court would handle those arguments through formal motions later.
Prosecutors Describe the Core Allegations
Prosecutors accuse Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and other defendants of directing a long-running plan to move large quantities of cocaine into the United States. In addition, the indictment includes firearms allegations tied to the same alleged network. As a result, the government framed the case as both a trafficking and security matter.
Defense Plans an Aggressive Pretrial Strategy
Maduro’s attorneys said they will challenge the case early and often. First, they plan to argue that Maduro qualifies for head-of-state immunity. Second, they intend to attack the legality of how U.S. forces took him into custody. Therefore, the judge will likely spend months ruling on threshold issues before any jury hears evidence.
Related MB Daily News Coverage
To follow the capture claims and the political reaction surrounding the operation, read MB Daily News’ related report: Trump Claims Maduro Captured .
What Happens Next
Maduro and Flores remain in federal custody while lawyers prepare the first round of filings. For now, the defense has not requested bail, although attorneys may revisit that option later. Next, the court will set deadlines for motions, disclosures, and future hearings.
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