Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have claimed their innocence in a drug smuggling case in a United States court. They were produced before a Manhattan court in New York around 8pm local time on Monday.
In court, Nicolás Maduro said, “I am still the president.” He also described himself as a “prisoner of war,” according to reports from US media outlets.
Meanwhile, Maduro’s lawyer said that his client is not currently applying for bail; however, he may apply in the future.
Regarding the hearing, the court has set 17 March as the next date for Maduro’s appearance. Judge Alvin Hellerstein issued this order.
Earlier, around 8 a.m. local time in New York, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were taken to Manhattan federal court in prison attire. They were brought to the court under tight security.
It is noteworthy that last Friday night, after being extradited from Venezuela, President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were held in a Brooklyn prison in New York. The US has charged them with drug and arms smuggling. At the same time, Maduro’s son, Guerra, has also been accused of drug trafficking in a US court.
Earlier, dramatic images showed the couple being escorted in handcuffs under heavy guard into the courthouse.
Meanwhile, in Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim leader, praising Maduro and Flores as “heroes.”
Back in Washington, Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, briefed senior lawmakers on Venezuela. Following the session, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the plan for governing Venezuela as “vague, based on wishful thinking, and unsatisfying.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, the top Republican in Congress, countered that the US is “demanding a change in how a regime rules” rather than pursuing regime change, insisting President Trump acted within constitutional authority.
In a separate interview, Trump emphasised that the US is not at war with Venezuela, adding that the person ultimately in charge of Venezuela is “me”.
