The former Venezuelan president, who was in handcuffs, claimed to have been kidnapped and insisted that he remains the president of Venezuela. Maduro risks between 30 years in prison and life in prison if found guilty, with the next session scheduled for March 17.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, declared themselves innocent of all on the day they were presented in a New York federal court.
Before the judge, Maduro said he was the target of a kidnapping and insisted that he remains in office as President of Venezuela.
This is the moment that Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were transported from the detention center in Brooklyn to the federal court in New York, where they are accused of narcoterrorism, conspiracy to send cocaine to the United States and crimes related to weapons of war.
Surrounded by heavy security and displayed before the eyes of the world, waiting for the deposed president of Venezuela and his wife was a battalion of journalists from all over the world.
The until recently president of Venezuela and his wife entered the courthouse through a high security vehicle. Cameras were not allowed inside, but journalists present reported that both Maduro and Flores declared themselves innocent.
Handcuffed, Nicolás Maduro reportedly said in Spanish that he was kidnapped from his home, that he is a prisoner of war, a decent man and also the president of Venezuela.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, responded that this was not the time or place for arguments. On the street, separated by barriers, a few meters away, there were protesters for and against Maduro’s capture.
The North American press reports that, among Maduro and Flores’ defense team, is Barry Pollack, lawyer for the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange. For now, no appeal has been filed, in a session admittedly intended to fulfill the formality of identifying and declaring the accusations.
If found guilty, Nicolás Maduro risks a sentence of between 30 years and life in prison. The next session was scheduled for March 17th.
