US forces carried out a midnight operation and took Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro out of his country. He is now imprisoned thousands of miles away in the United States. Many expected that once he reached American soil, the powerful leader would break down. But what happened in a New York court on Monday surprised everyone and felt straight out of a movie.
Nearly two days after the operation, Maduro appeared calm and defiant in a federal court in Manhattan. Looking straight at the judge, he declared that he was innocent and insisted that he was still the President of Venezuela. He said he had been forcibly brought to the US and described the move as a 'kidnapping,' not an arrest.
Defiant in court, denies all charges
The 63-year-old leader showed no sign of fear while standing before Judge Alvin Hellerstein. He firmly rejected all charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism brought against him by the US government. In clear words, Maduro told the court, "I am innocent. I am not a criminal. I am the President of my country."
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Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, who was with him when he was taken from Caracas, also appeared in court. She too denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. US authorities have accused Maduro of leading a state-backed drug trafficking network that allegedly smuggled large amounts of cocaine into America. If convicted, he could face decades in prison or even life imprisonment.
Legal battle and political support
Maduro has made it clear that he is ready for a long legal fight. He has hired well-known lawyer Barry Pollack, who earlier played a key role in securing the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Legal experts say this shows Maduro is preparing for a tough courtroom battle.
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Venezuela's National Assembly has openly backed him, demanding the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. The Assembly accused the US government of kidnapping their President and called the action 'barbaric and cowardly.' Analysts say the case will see strong arguments on both sides, with Maduro's lawyers likely to claim that, as a sitting head of state, he cannot be tried by a US court. Despite being in American custody, Maduro's first court appearance showed that his resolve remains unbroken.
