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Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in New York as Congress Questions Raid and Rodríguez Assumes Interim Power

The operation is triggering a fight over presidential authority versus law enforcement powers.

Overview

  • In Manhattan federal court, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty, with Maduro declaring himself a prisoner of war.
  • After a classified briefing, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he does not expect U.S. troop deployments, while Democrats sought clearer plans and pushed a War Powers measure.
  • Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim leader in Caracas and signaled openness to cooperate with Washington as her government moved to detain people tied to the U.S. assault.
  • China and multiple Latin American governments condemned the U.S. action at the U.N. and in public statements, calling it a breach of sovereignty and urging Maduro’s release.
  • Reports put deaths from the operation and subsequent clashes at 40 or more, possibly as high as 80, and President Trump linked U.S. engagement to rebuilding Venezuela’s oil sector.