'I am innocent': Maduro makes first appearance in US court

US President Nicolas Maduro entered a not guilty plea in a federal courthouse in New York City on Monday, following his abduction by the US in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

Appearing shackled and in prison clothes and slippers, Maduro told 92-year-old judge Alvin Hellerstein through an interpreter: "I am the president of Venezuela."

"I was kidnapped," he added. "I am a decent man," and "I am innocent," Maduro said. 

No cameras were allowed inside the courtroom, but several reporters were allowed to observe the proceedings. 

Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, did request bail. Given how high-profile the case is, it was very unlikely he would have been released to wait out his legal process as a free man. 

US attorney general Pam Bondi said that Maduro has been charged with "Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States". 

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against him and his wife, Cilia Flores, in 2020, under the first Trump administration.

Five other defendants were named in the document, but not Flores. 

Bondi has since shared an unsealed indictment that charges Flores and the couple's son, who was not abducted with them, with trafficking drugs. Flores is also accused of ordering kidnappings and murders, and accepting bribes.

In the US, an unsealed indictment is effectively the withholding of formal criminal charges until the suspects have appeared in court. 

On Monday, Flores also appeared in court next to her husband and pleaded not guilty. 

They will both be granted consular visits as citizens of Venezuela, the judge said. Flores had visible bruises on her face, and her lawyer has asked for her to receive medical attention. 

As the hearing concluded, NBC News reported that Maduro turned to face the crowd sitting at the back of the courtroom, where one man shouted, "You will pay on behalf of Venezuela."

In response, Maduro said: "In the name of god, I will be free."

The next court appearance for Maduro and Flores is on 17 March. 

Global reaction

The death count from the US attack on Venezuela has risen to 80, including civilians and members of security forces, according to a senior Venezuelan official who said the number could rise further, The New York Times reported. 

US special forces abducted Venezuela's president from the capital, Caracas, early on Saturday, as American fighter jets bombed key military installations and bases across the country.

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, said the US seizure of Maduro had "Zionist undertones". 

Rodriguez, who served as Maduro's vice president, has been appointed by the Supreme Court to lead the country on an interim basis.

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Speaking in a televised address on Saturday, Rodriguez said: "Governments around the world are shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has become the victim and target of an attack of this nature, which undoubtedly has Zionist undertones."

In a statement, the Venezuelan government said it "rejects, condemns and denounces the extremely serious military aggression" carried out by the US against its territory and population.

"The objective of this attack is nothing other than the seizure of Venezuela’s strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals, through an attempt to forcibly break the nation’s political independence," the statement added.

US officials told CBS on Saturday that the operation to “capture” Maduro was carried out by the elite Delta Force unit. Trump later described the mission as “brilliant” in a phone call with The New York Times.

Russia, one of Venezuela’s closest allies, condemned the US strikes, calling them an “act of armed aggression” that is “deeply concerning and condemnable”. 

Moscow said it was “extremely concerned” by the removal of Maduro. Iran, also an ally of Venezuela, slammed the US for “the flagrant violation of [Venezuela’s] national sovereignty and territorial integrity”. 

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who Trump previously threatened as the next target after Venezuela, said his country “rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America” and called for the United Nations and the Organization of American States to convene immediately.

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stopped short of condemning the US, saying that “Maduro lacks legitimacy”. 

“The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint,” she said on X. 

Germany said it was watching the situation “with great concern”, while Spain called for de-escalation and respect for international law