Overview
- Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were arraigned in Manhattan and entered not guilty pleas before Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
- Speaking through a translator, Maduro called himself Venezuela’s president and told the court he was kidnapped from Caracas.
- A newly unsealed 25-page SDNY indictment outlines narco-terrorism, cocaine importation, and weapons counts and names additional defendants including Maduro’s son and senior officials.
- Maduro was represented by Barry J. Pollack, who raised health concerns; Flores’ lawyer cited possible injuries from the raid; the next court date was set for March 17.
- Legal battles over arrest legality and immunity are expected, with analysts pointing to the Noriega precedent, and the U.N. Security Council planned to review the U.S. operation.