Maduro declares ‘I’m harmless’ and ‘nonetheless president’ in Manhattan courtroom look

Ousted Venezuelan chief Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, made their preliminary look in Manhattan federal courtroom on Monday following their seize by U.S. forces in a navy operation within the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, with Maduro claiming, “I’m harmless.”

Maduro instructed the courtroom he’s “nonetheless president of my nation” and his legal professional signaled they might attempt to assert Maduro is entitled to safety from prosecution as head of a sovereign state.

There are “points concerning the legality of his navy abduction,” his legal professional Barry Pollack mentioned.

Maduro and Flores — who’re being held in federal custody at MDC-Brooklyn — appeared in entrance of Decide Alvin Hellerstein at midday.  

When he entered the courtroom, Maduro greeted the spectators, saying, “Buenos dias.” Maduro was escorted into the courtroom in shackles and orange jail slippers and sat two seats away from his spouse.

The couple wore headphones to listen to the court-provided interpreter. 

When Maduro took his seat subsequent to Pollack, he instantly started writing on a notepad. Flores sat subsequent to her legal professional, Mark Donnelly.

Maduro stood earlier than the choose.

“Are you, sir, Nicolas Maduro Moros?” Hellerstein requested.

Maduro declared, by an interpreter, “I’m the president of Venezuela.” He added, “I used to be captured at my residence in Caracas, Venezuela,” earlier than the choose interrupted and instructed him there could be time later to problem his custody.

Maduro then affirmed he’s who the choose mentioned he’s.

Hellerstein learn Maduro the usual rights.

Maduro mentioned, by an interpreter, “I didn’t know of those rights. Your Honor is informing me of them now.”

“How do you plead to the indictment?” Hellerstein requested.

Maduro responded, “I’m harmless. I’m not responsible. I’m an honest man. I’m nonetheless president of my nation.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has mentioned he believes Maduro is just not the legit president of the nation. That was additionally the place of the Biden administration, which supplied a $25 million reward for his arrest in January 2025.

“I’m harmless. I’m not responsible of something talked about right here,” Maduro responded, by an interpreter, when requested to repeat his plea to the fees.

Hellerstein then turned to Maduro’s spouse.

“I’m Cilia Flores,” she mentioned. “I’m first woman of the Republic of Venezuela.”

Hellerstein interjected, saying, “The aim at this time is simply to ask you who you’re.” The choose then defined her rights to stay silent and to be represented by an legal professional.

“Sure I perceive and I’ve heard it,” Flores mentioned.

Requested how she pleaded to the three counts of the indictment she faces. Flores responded, “Not responsible — utterly harmless.”

“As residents of the state of Venezuela, you’ve got the suitable to seek the advice of with consular officers,” Hellerstein knowledgeable Maduro and Flores.

“We perceive it and we wish to have such consular visits,” Maduro mentioned.

Maduro took notes throughout the continuing and he requested the choose for permission to maintain them. 

Maduro and Flores didn’t ask for bail. The choose mentioned he’s open to receiving a bail software sooner or later, however the couple will in any other case stay detained at MDC-Brooklyn.

Donnelly mentioned Flores was injured throughout the navy operation and requested a medical briefing. A bruise was evident on Flores’ head.

“She sustained vital accidents. There’s fear she might have a fracture or extreme bruising on her ribs,” Donnelly mentioned.

As Maduro was being led from the courtroom, somebody within the gallery stood and shouted in Spanish, partly, “You’ll pay within the identify of Venezuela.”

Maduro stopped and responded in Spanish, “I’m the elected president. I’m a prisoner of warfare. I might be free.” 

The following courtroom date is about for March 17.

Earlier than Monday’s listening to, dueling teams of protesters gathered throughout the road from the courthouse, One group held indicators urging President Donald Trump to “Free President Maduro,” and the opposite supported of his seize.

Maduro and Flores are amongst six defendants named in a four-count superseding indictment that accused them of conspiring with violent, harmful drug traffickers for the final 25 years. Maduro has lengthy denied all of the allegations. 

Maduro’s son, two high-ranking Venezuelan officers and an alleged chief of the Tren de Aragua legal gang are the opposite defendants.

Trump mentioned on Saturday that the U.S. “efficiently carried out a large-scale strike towards Venezuela” by which Maduro and Flores have been “captured and flown out of the Nation.”

Trump mentioned the operation was carried out along with U.S. legislation enforcement. Members of Congress mentioned the navy, which sources mentioned included the elite Delta Pressure, was in place to assist that legislation enforcement operation.

In a transfer that alarmed some observers, Trump, who campaigned on “America First” and towards overseas entanglements, mentioned throughout a press convention at Mar-a-Lago the U.S. would “run” Venezuela for an unspecified “time period.”

He mentioned a staff comprised of a few of his Cupboard officers together with an area staff in Venezuela could be “working the nation” as a result of there’s “no one to take over.”

“We’ll run it correctly. We’ll run it professionally. We’ll have the best oil firms on the planet go in and make investments billions and billions of {dollars} and take out cash, use that cash in Venezuela, and the largest beneficiary are going to be the individuals of Venezuela,” Trump mentioned.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim chief to steer the nation after what the Venezuelan Supreme Courtroom described as Maduro’s “kidnapping.” 

Rodriguez demanded Maduro’s return and vowed to defend Venezuela towards American aggression.

On Sunday, Rodriguez posted an announcement to social media by which she appeared to melt her tone, inviting “the U.S. authorities to collaborate with us on an agenda of cooperation oriented in direction of shared improvement throughout the framework of worldwide legislation to strengthen lasting group coexistence.”

Trump instructed reporters on Sunday that the U.S. is “in cost” of Venezuela.

The president mentioned he had not but spoken to Rodriguez. Requested if he wished to, Trump mentioned, “On the proper time, I’ll.”

ABC Information’ Meghan Mistry and Hannah Demissie contributed to this report.