NEW YORK, United States — Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York court Thursday for his second hearing since being captured by US forces in a high-profile nighttime raid in early January.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center for nearly three months. The operation deposed Maduro, who led Venezuela since 2013, and marked a major assertion of US influence under President Donald Trump.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to four charges: conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons. He has declared himself a “prisoner of war.” Trump said Thursday that “other cases are going to be brought” against Maduro but gave no further details, adding during a White House meeting, “He’ll, you know, I guess be given a fair trial.”
At Thursday’s hearing, Maduro’s lawyers argued over who should pay his legal fees. Barry Pollack, representing Maduro, contended that US sanctions blocking Venezuelan government payments violated his constitutional right to legal representation and asked the court to dismiss the case on procedural grounds.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse, supporters and critics of Maduro gathered, including some displaying a large inflatable doll of him in an orange jumpsuit with handcuffs. “We are desperate for any sort of justice regarding everything that we’ve been through,” said supporter Carlos Egana. A minor scuffle broke out among protesters before police intervened.
Maduro remains in solitary confinement at the Brooklyn detention center with limited communication. He is allowed 15-minute phone calls with family and lawyers and reportedly spends time reading the Bible. His son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, said Maduro remains strong and reassures the family: “We are fine, we are fighters.”
The January raid involved US commandos, airstrikes, warplanes, and a naval presence, resulting in at least 83 deaths and over 112 injuries, according to Venezuelan officials. No US personnel were killed.
Meanwhile, Venezuela is led by Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former vice president. Under US pressure, Rodriguez has enacted a historic amnesty for political prisoners and reformed oil and mining regulations to allow greater foreign access to Venezuela’s natural resources.
The US State Department recently announced plans to restore diplomatic ties with Venezuela, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the two countries.