Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in US Court, Claims Presidency

Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to drug trafficking and related charges during his first appearance in a federal court in New York, days after being taken into US custody in a dramatic operation in Caracas.

Appearing before a Manhattan judge, the 63-year-old Maduro declared, “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” speaking in Spanish through an interpreter. Wearing an orange prison shirt and beige trousers, he smiled briefly as he entered the courtroom and claimed he was still Venezuela’s legitimate president.

“I am the president of the Republic of Venezuela, and I am here kidnapped since January 3,” Maduro told the court, referring to his capture at his residence in Caracas. The judge, however, instructed him to limit his remarks to procedural matters.

Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also entered a not-guilty plea. The court ordered the couple to remain in custody and scheduled the next hearing for March 17.

As the proceedings unfolded in New York, thousands of Maduro supporters marched in Caracas, while his former deputy Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, signalling a major political shift in the oil-rich country.

US officials say Maduro was seized in the early hours of Saturday during a coordinated military operation involving air and naval assets. Following the operation, President Donald Trump announced that Washington intends to take a leading role in reshaping Venezuela’s oil sector and dismissed the prospect of near-term elections.

Maduro came to power in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez and ruled for more than a decade. The United States and its allies have long accused him of election manipulation, repression of political opponents and widespread corruption.

Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, now faces deep uncertainty. Years of sanctions and mismanagement have left its energy infrastructure severely degraded, while the political transition has raised fears of instability and power struggles within the ruling elite.

Analysts warn that the country could face further turmoil before any meaningful recovery takes hold, as competing factions manoeuvre for influence during a highly volatile period.