Overview
- At a January 5 arraignment in Manhattan, Nicolás Maduro entered a not‑guilty plea and described his capture as an abduction.
- U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein presided over the brief hearing, cutting off a longer statement by Maduro to keep the proceeding to identification and the plea.
- Prosecutors accuse Maduro of drug‑terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and unlawful possession of machine guns.
- Hellerstein scheduled the next court date for March 17, 2026, signaling a case likely to unfold over months given its scope and profile.
- Hellerstein, a Bronx‑born jurist in senior status, previously managed sprawling 9/11 litigation and issued notable rulings in cases involving Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein, with prior involvement in a Venezuela‑linked narcotics matter.