Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores are making their first appearance in a US federal court Monday.
The fallen leader, 66, and his 69-year-old wife were charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States in the Southern District of New York on Saturday.
The couple was indicted after they were captured at their heavily fortified compound in Caracas by US forces during a daring mission dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve” after President Trump gave the final directive for the US to attack the South American nation earlier Saturday.
The Trump administration has repeatedly called Maduro’s regime “illegitimate” and said he has remained in power due to rigged elections, including in 2024. Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is next in line for the presidency, according to its constitution.
Maduro and Flores are in separate, solitary cells inside Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center — where heavily armed law enforcement members are on patrol outside. The lockup has also housed Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione.
Maduro and Flores are set to appear before US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
Venezuelan dictator Maduro claims he was 'kidnapped' in Manhattan federal court outburst
Ousted Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro denounced his capture as a kidnapping in an outburst in Manhattan federal court that was swiftly cut off by District Judge Alvin Hellerstein as proceedings got underway Monday.
"I'm the president of the republic of Venezuela ... I am here kidnapped ... I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela," he said before Hellerstein stopped him.
"Let me interfere -- there will be a time and a place to go into all of this. Your counsel will be able to make motions ... at this time, I just want to know one thing: Are you Nicolás Maduro Moros?" he asked.
"I am Nicholas Maduro Moros," he replied.
Maduro's wife Celia Flores suffered possible rib fracture, bruising during arrest: lawyer
Venezuela's ousted first lady Celia Flores suffered "significant injuries" -- including a possible rib fracture and bruising -- when she was captured by US forces, her Texas-based lawyer told a judge Monday.
The private lawyer, Mark Donnelly, asked for his client to under a full x-ray to ensure her health while in federal custody.
He added that her injuries were visible in court.
Maduro's lawyer says client won't seek immediate release, may request bail later
One of Nicolás Maduro's lawyers told Judge Alvin Hellerstein that his client is not seeking to be immediately released from custody but reserves his right to "put in a bail application at a further day.''
Maduro, who was scribbling on a white piece of paper during the proceedings, added at one point, "I would like to ask that my notes be respected and that I am entitled to keep them."
Maduro's wife pleads not guilty: 'Completely innocent'
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, has pleaded not guilty.
"Not guilty. Completely innocent," Flores, 69, told a Manhattan federal judge when asked to enter her plea Monday.
Both Maduro and his alleged co-conspirator wife have been relying on an interpreter as the proceedings continue.
Maduro proclaims his innocence to courtroom during first appearance: 'I am a decent man'
Nicolás Maduro vehemently proclaimed he was innocent of the charges leveled against him at his arraignment in Manhattan federal court Monday afternoon.
"I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro insisted after Judge Alvin Hellerstein asked him if he understood he had the right to legal counsel.
"I did not know of these rights. Your honor is informing me of them now," Maduro said.
He then claimed he was seeing the indictment against him for the first time, and said he was pleading innocent.
"I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here," he said.
Judge Hellerstein lays out charges against Maduro, including providing financial support for terrorism, terrorist activity
Manhattan federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein exchanged brief pleasantries with the toppled Venezuelan dictator, saying, "Good morning, Mr. Maduro'' -- before reading out more than a quarter-century's worth of charges contained in the indictment against him.
"Mr. Maduro ... is charged in one count of narco-terrorism conspiracy, specifically from 1999 to 2025, he knowingly conspired with others ... and intentionally provided something of pecuniary value to a person or organization engaged in terrorism and terrorist activity," the 92-year-old jurist said from the bench.
As Hellerstein spoke, Maduro furiously scribbled notes on a white piece of paper.
Maduro arrives in court shackled at the ankles, greets attorneys
Deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro entered Manhattan court Monday shackled at the ankles -- but not the wrists -- wearing prison-issued orange shoes, beige pants and an orange shirt with what appears to be a black v-neck underneath.
Ex-US hostage urges Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez to free Americans as proof she's willing to work with Washington
An American once held hostage by Venezuela’s brutal regime on Monday called on the country’s de facto leader, Delcy Rodriguez, to immediately free the five US citizens still being held in Caracas — saying it would be the clearest sign yet that she’s willing to work with Washington.
“I’d like to call on interim President Delcy Rodriguez to release the five Americans immediately as a show of goodwill,” Marine Corps veteran Matthew Heath told The Post.
Heath, who was jailed during Nicolás Maduro’s rule on bogus charges and released in 2022, said Americans detained in Venezuela are routinely used as bargaining chips in political standoffs with the US.
“They don’t have a real justice system,” he said. “Judges do exactly what they’re told — or they end up in prison themselves.”
Maduro’s government detained more than 40 Americans during his time in power, according to the former prisoner, who said he was personally framed on fabricated charges and subjected to electric shocks and other torture inside Venezuela’s political prison system.
Now free and back in the US since 2022, the former detainee said seeing Maduro face prosecution in an American courtroom on Monday is deeply satisfying.
“He’s going to get a fair trial,” he said. “Something none of us were ever given.”
With Maduro gone, he said, Rodriguez has a rare opportunity to signal a break from the past — but warned that authoritarian regimes rarely give up hostages without extracting concessions.
“Hope springs eternal,” he said. “But history shows these regimes don’t release detainees unless they get something in return.”
Still, he said, freeing the Americans now could open the door to improved relations and help stabilize the country after years of repression and international isolation.
“If she wants to show she’s serious about moving Venezuela forward,” he said, “this is the moment.”
Private lawyer who famously negotiated release of WikiLeaks' Julian Assange joins Maduro team
Dictator Nicolas Maduro also will be repped by a top lawyer who once famously negotiated the prison release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Barry Pollack is a prominent private lawyer who is now part of the team defending the ousted Venezuelan president.
He brokered a bombshell June 2024 deal with the US government that allowed Assange, who was charged with breaching the Espionage Act by divulging state secrets, to return to his native Australia after pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor count.
It’s unclear whether or how the private lawyers will be paid for the appearance.
Maduro also is being repped by court-appointed lawyer David Wikstrom — meaning taxpayers will foot at least that part of the bill.
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