“I Am a Prisoner of War”: Defiant Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in Historic New York Arraignment (Video)

NEW YORK — In a courtroom scene that felt more like a geopolitical flashpoint than a standard legal proceeding, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stood before a U.S. federal judge today, January 6, 2026, to answer for a lifetime of alleged criminal activity. Clad in a blue prison uniform rather than his customary presidential sash, Maduro remained defiant, using his first public appearance since his weekend capture to challenge the legitimacy of the American court.

Video courtesy PBS NewsHour

The Defiant Plea

The hearing, held at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Lower Manhattan, began shortly after noon under unprecedented security. As U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein read the charges—which include narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and the possession of machine guns—Maduro repeatedly interrupted through a Spanish interpreter.

“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country,” Maduro declared, leaning toward the microphone. He frequently referred to himself as a “kidnapped president” and a “prisoner of war,” claiming that his extraction from Caracas by U.S. special forces on January 3 was an act of “international piracy.”

Judge Hellerstein was firm, at one point cutting the former leader off. “There will be a time and place to challenge the legality of your arrest,” the judge noted, “but right now, I only need to know: Are you Nicolás Maduro Moros?”

“I am Nicolás Maduro Moros,” the defendant eventually responded, though he later added, “In the name of God, I will be free.”

The Prosecution’s Case

Federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York laid out a timeline that alleges Maduro has presided over the “Cartel of the Suns” for over two decades. The government claims that as early as 1999, Maduro and other high-ranking officials used the Venezuelan military and judiciary to facilitate the transit of hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States.

The indictment asserts that Maduro did not merely look the other way, but actively negotiated with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to weaponize drug trafficking as a tool to “flood” the U.S. with narcotics. According to the DOJ, Maduro provided drug traffickers with diplomatic protection and specialized weaponry to secure their shipments.

A “First Lady” in the Dock

Sharing the defense table was Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, who also pleaded not guilty. Flores, an attorney and former head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, appeared in court with visible bruising and a bandage on her forehead—injuries her attorney, Mark Donnelly, claimed were sustained during the “violent raid” on the presidential compound. Donnelly requested a full medical evaluation for Flores, suggesting she may have suffered fractured ribs during the capture.

Despite the physical toll, both defendants appeared meticulously engaged. Maduro was observed taking copious notes on a yellow legal pad, even requesting—and receiving—the judge’s permission to keep his notes private from the U.S. Marshals.

Protests and Global Fallout

Outside the courthouse, the atmosphere was electric. Police barricades separated two distinct groups: jubilant Venezuelan exiles waving flags and chanting “Justice,” and anti-war activists holding signs that read “USA, Hands off Venezuela.”

The legal battle ahead is expected to be protracted. Maduro’s lead counsel, Barry J. Pollack—known for representing high-profile figures like Julian Assange—intends to argue that Maduro is a “sovereign head of state” and is immune from prosecution under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. However, U.S. officials have already signaled that they no longer recognize Maduro’s sovereign status following the swearing-in of interim leader Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas.

As the hearing concluded, a man in the gallery stood and shouted in Spanish, “You will pay for what you have done!” Maduro did not flinch, looking directly at the man before being escorted out by a phalanx of federal agents. Judge Hellerstein has set the next hearing for March 17, 2026, ordering both Maduro and Flores to remain in federal custody without bail.

News Sources & Links

• PBS News: Live Updates: Removed Venezuelan leader Maduro makes first appearance in U.S. court
• The Guardian: Maduro defiant in surreal New York courtroom spectacle
• The Hindu / Reuters: Maduro pleads not guilty, says he is ‘still the President’
• CBS News: Ousted Venezuelan President Maduro arraigned in U.S. court
• Al Jazeera: Venezuela’s Maduro to appear in New York court: What to expect