Nicolás Maduro Arraigned in Manhattan, Pleads Not Guilty and Calls Himself 'Kidnapped'

Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan president, appeared in a federal courthouse in Manhattan and pleaded not guilty to U.S. charges, saying he had been “kidnapped” and declaring, “I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man.” Prosecutors say Mr. Maduro was seized by Army Delta Force commandos and transported to the United States; he entered a formal plea to narco-terrorism and cocaine importation charges while wearing a navy shirt over orange prison garb and headphones for translation.

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein interrupted when Mr. Maduro tried to speak further and asked only that he confirm his identity. Also indicted and arraigned was his wife, Cilia Flores, who pleaded not guilty and appeared with a bruised and bandaged face. The indictment names six defendants, including Mr.

Maduro’s son Nicolás Maduro Guerra; other named figures include Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Héctor Guerrero Flores, the Tren de Aragua leader who remains at large. Southern District prosecutors have charged the defendants with drug-trafficking counts and with possessing and conspiring to possess machine guns; the indictment says the group “partnered with narcotics traffickers and narco-terrorist groups.” Mr.

Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said he might file motions about Mr. Maduro’s status as the head of a sovereign government and about the legality of his military abduction.

Key Topics

World, Nicolás Maduro, Cilia Flores, Delta Force, Narco-terrorism, Tren De Aragua