Underneath heavy guard, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, had been flown from a federal jail in Brooklyn to Manhattan on Monday morning to make their first courtroom look since being captured by U.S. forces over the weekend.
Surrounded by Drug Enforcement Company brokers, the shackled Maduro shuffled from the helicopter to an armored car, and was then pushed to a federal courthouse, the place he was greeted by the New York Metropolis Police Division and protesters — on one facet of the road had been these cheering Maduro’s downfall, and on the opposite had been these opposing his seize and detention.
Contained in the courtroom, Maduro, clad in a jail jumpsuit, was initially defiant, declaring by means of a translator that he’s a “respectable man,” harmless of all fees.
“I’m nonetheless president of my nation,” he mentioned. In the meantime in Caracas, Maduro’s vp and longtime confidant Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president.
Each Maduro and his spouse pleaded not responsible.
Jane Rosenberg
At one level, it appeared Maduro was making an attempt to grandstand, however U.S. District Decide Alvin Hellerstein minimize him off, like he would anybody, saying he simply wanted to know Maduro’s identification and if he understood his rights and the costs towards him.
Maduro faces 4 counts of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine and weapons-related offenses. He was indicted throughout President Trump’s first time period in 2020. In a superseding indictment unsealed Saturday, federal prosecutors have accused Maduro, his spouse, son and others of partnering with among the most violent, prolific drug traffickers and narco terrorists on this planet to distribute tons of cocaine to america for many years.
Flores’ lawyer, Mark Donnelly, mentioned she could have suffered an damage to her ribs through the early Saturday morning operation to seize her and Maduro. She additionally appeared in courtroom on Monday with a bandage on her brow. It is unclear if the previous Venezuelan president was injured, however his lawyer, Barry Pollack, informed the courtroom he has well being points that may require consideration. Hellerstein promised them each full medical consideration.
The subsequent listening to is ready for March 17, and Maduro and his spouse have waived their proper to a speedy trial, so the complete prison proceedings towards them might grow to be a prolonged ordeal.
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