The current situation
Maduro in court: Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, displaying defiance, entered not guilty pleas during their initial court appearance in New York following their capture in a US military operation. The removed leader, who is confronting charges related to drugs and weapons, informed the judge that he remains “the president of Venezuela.” The couple is currently not pursuing bail. Continúa con nuestra cobertura en español.
• Venezuela’s uncertain future: President Donald Trump stated that the US, which has not acknowledged Maduro as the legitimate leader of the country, is “in charge,” while acting president Delcy Rodríguez urged for “cooperation” with the US. Trump has stated that he is relying on American companies to restore Venezuela’s damaged oil industry. At the same time, Venezuelans are preparing themselves with a sense of unease about what lies ahead.
• Trump’s threats: Trump suggested the possibility of military intervention in Colombia, urged Mexico to improve its approach to drug issues, and stated that the US has a need for Greenland.
Maduro’s legal team will probably challenge the legality of the arrest prior to addressing any evidence.
Prior to addressing the evidence related to the charges against Nicolás Maduro, his legal team is expected to contend that he is not legally in custody at all, according to CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller.
Miller stated that the initial action of Maduro’s legal team will be to challenge the arrest and question the legitimacy of his custody. During today’s court proceedings, Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, informed the judge that there are concerns regarding the legal aspects of his client’s military abduction.
Maduro stated in court that he was captured at his residence and asserted that he is the president of Venezuela — a point his legal team is expected to emphasize early in the proceedings, according to Miller.
Pollack informed the judge that Maduro serves as the leader of a sovereign state and is thus entitled to the privileges and immunities associated with that position. Nonetheless, this is a matter of contention, as the United States does not acknowledge Maduro or his administration as the rightful government following multiple contested elections.
The distinctive elements of Maduro’s initial appearance
Nicolás Maduro’s initial court appearance in New York today has exhibited a “show aspect,” according to CNN Senior Justice Correspondent Evan Perez during the broadcast.
“They paraded him in front of cameras,” Perez said while outside the court on Monday. “This is very unusual in federal court here in the federal system.”
“Usually, you don’t have mugshots of people released because of the danger that (it) poses for their ability to present their defense, innocent until proven guilty,” he added.
Perez observed that, as the leader of another nation, Maduro is accustomed to making decisions independently.
“He’s used to running things himself, he’s used to being able to issue orders and decide how things (are) going,” Perez said.
“I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela,” Maduro tells the judge.
Shortly after his initial appearance in federal court, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro addressed the judge, stating, “I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela.”
The statement outlines what is expected to be a primary defense: that his nighttime arrest in a foreign country by US law enforcement – described as a “military abduction” by his attorney – was unlawful.
This argument is not new for defendants. More than thirty years ago, Manuel Noriega of Panama charged the United States with breaching international law and due process rights by invading Panama and apprehending him overseas.
However, that argument did not prevail, as the courts declined to examine the legality of the Panama invasion and concentrated solely on the allegations presented in Noriega’s indictment. The question of whether courts will revisit that precedent in Maduro’s case is still uncertain.
It is uncommon for a criminal defendant to address a judge during an initial appearance, as defense attorneys usually caution their clients that any statements made could be utilized in their prosecution.
On Monday, Judge Alvin Hellerstein issued a comparable warning to Maduro while the Venezuelan president was addressing the audience.
“A time and a place will come to discuss all of this,” the judge stated.
