BREAKING: Maduro pleads not guilty in NYC court, claims he was ‘kidnapped’
“I’m not guilty. I am a decent man.”
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“I’m not guilty. I am a decent man.”
Deposed Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges in a New York City court on Monday after he and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, were captured by American forces in the early hours of Saturday and taken to the United States from Venezuela.
Maduro said in the Manhattan courtroom on Monday, "I’m not guilty. I am a decent man." Maduro insisted, "I am still president of my country." Per the Daily Mail, Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein cut off Maduro, saying "a plea of not guilty will be entered on behalf of Maduro." When he was asked about his plea again, Maduro said, "I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here."
Maduro claimed during the hearing that he had been "kidnapped." The deposed Venezuelan leader is being represented by the DC-based attorney Barry J Pollack, who also represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Pollack claimed that "There are questions about the legality of [Maduro’s] military abduction."
While leaving the courtroom, Maduro reportedly said in Spanish, "I am a prisoner of war." Maduro and Flores will next appear in court on March 17 at 11 am. Maduro and Flores are not seeking bail at this time, and both said they would like to invoke their right to speak with the Venezuelan consulate.
Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
This is a breaking story. Please refresh the page for updates.
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