Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Pleads Not Guilty to Narco-Terrorism Charges

Court Appearance and Charges

• 🏛️ Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York federal court.
• ⚖️ Both pleaded not guilty to a 4-count indictment.
• 🚫 Prosecutors accuse Maduro and codefendants of working with drug traffickers to move tons of cocaine into the US over the past 25 years.
• ⛓️ Maduro, shackled and speaking through a translator, declared his innocence and stated he is still the president.

Legal Proceedings and Detention

• 🧑‍⚖️ The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
• 🤝 The government alleges Maduro used the Venezuelan government to execute a drug conspiracy.
• адвокат Maduro has hired Barry Pollock, who previously represented Julian Assange.
• 🔒 Neither Maduro nor Flores requested bail and were taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Capture and Injuries

• 💥 Cilia Flores' attorney stated she was seriously injured with a potentially fractured rib during the capture.
• 🌃 Maduro and Flores were taken by US forces from their compound in Venezuela in the middle of the night.

Public Reaction and Next Steps

• 🗣️ Dozens of protesters from both sides gathered outside the court, requiring NYPD separation.
• ✊ Inside the court, someone yelled, "You will pay in the name of Venezuela."
• 🗣️ Maduro responded, "I am a prisoner of war. I will be free."
• 🗓️ The next court date is set for March 17th, with the judge open to future bail applications.