Nicolas Maduro in court. Reuters.
At the hearing held on January 5, Maduro and Flores, who became the subject of a military operation by American forces, declared their innocence, as reported by DW based on information from global agencies.
Maduro, speaking in court, stated: "I am innocent. I am an honorable man, I remain the president of my country," and characterized himself as a "prisoner of war."
Both defendants appeared at the hearing in prison clothing, with translation headsets, without handcuffs, but with leg shackles. Flores noted that she considers herself the First Lady of Venezuela and also does not acknowledge her guilt.
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17, during which time Maduro and Flores will remain in custody in New York. Their representatives intend to challenge the legality of the arrest, claiming that Maduro has immunity as a sovereign head of state, although U.S. authorities do not recognize him as a legitimate president.
According to Bloomberg, the legal proceedings in Maduro's case will not begin until 2027, when the judge will establish a preliminary schedule for the exchange of evidence and motions.
As reported by CBS News, at the first hearing, Maduro's defense was represented by Barry Pollack, who previously defended Julian Assange, while Flores' lawyer was Mark Donnelly from Texas. The attorneys stated that their clients do not intend to request bail at this stage but did not rule out the possibility of filing such a motion later.
It is worth noting that on January 3, Maduro and Flores were captured by the U.S. Delta Force as part of Operation "Absolute Resolve" and were first taken to a U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo and then to New York.
U.S. authorities have charged Maduro with "narcoterrorism," illegal possession of weapons, and trafficking Venezuelan diplomatic passports. He is accused of leading the criminal organization Cartel de los Soles, designated as a terrorist group in the U.S., as well as conspiring with Colombian drug cartels. Maduro has rejected these accusations, claiming they serve as a cover for access to Venezuela's oil reserves.
After the capture, the Supreme Court of Venezuela appointed Delcy Rodriguez as the interim president. In her new role, she emphasized that Caracas seeks to develop balanced international relations, including with the U.S. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Rodriguez "will pay a high price" if she does not cooperate with American authorities, adding that this could be a higher price than for Maduro, as reported by The Atlantic.
