NEW YORK, USA — Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro entered a not-guilty plea in a federal courtroom in Manhattan on Monday, January 5, 2026 marking his first court appearance since United States forces captured him in a military operation and transported him to New York to face narcotics and weapons charges.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in court dressed in prison attire, with prosecutors outlining the initial charges and the judge setting the next hearing date for Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
The couple are not seeking bail at this stage.
During the hearing, Maduro spoke briefly, saying, “I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela,” and insisting that he remains the president of Venezuela.
It is unusual for defendants to address the court during an initial appearance, and Judge Alvin Hellerstein cautioned him that anything he said could be used against him.
“There will be a time and a place to go into all of this,” the judge told him.
Defence lawyer Barry Pollack signalled that one of the central legal strategies will be to challenge the circumstances of the arrest, referring to Maduro’s seizure as a “military abduction.”
Pollack said there would be substantial pre-trial motions and argued that Maduro, as head of a sovereign state, is entitled to immunity — a status the United States disputes.
Pollack also told the court that Maduro has “health and medical issues” requiring attention.
Flores’ lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she appeared to have rib injuries and would need further medical evaluation.
Both defendants entered not-guilty pleas.
Next Steps in the Case
Maduro has been charged in New York with conspiracy to traffic drugs and related weapons offences. He is being held at a federal detention facility in the city.
Prosecutors and defence counsel met briefly after the hearing, and court officials confirmed that the case will proceed on the schedule set out by Judge Hellerstein.
Legal analysts said defence lawyers are expected first to contest the legality of his custody before turning to the substance of the charges.
They are likely to argue that his removal from Venezuela violated international law — a challenge that echoes arguments raised unsuccessfully decades ago by former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega.
Protesters Gather Outside Courthouse Ahead of Hearing
A heavy police presence was deployed outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan on Monday as several hundred protesters gathered ahead of Nicolás Maduro’s appearance. Demonstrators carried Venezuelan flags and placards, with some calling for the release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Maduro was flown to the courthouse by helicopter earlier in the day. He was seen wearing prison scrubs and escorted by federal agents as he was led from the aircraft into the building for his initial court appearance.
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Wider Political Upheaval
The court appearance came amid significant uncertainty over Venezuela’s political future following Maduro’s capture.
President Donald Trump has said the United States is “in charge” in Venezuela pending what he called a transitional process, while Venezuelan vice-president Delcy Rodríguez has publicly urged cooperation with Washington.
Maduro’s detention has prompted protests in parts of Latin America and among Venezuelan diaspora communities, while many residents in Caracas remained indoors amid concerns over instability.
Maduro and Flores left the courtroom silently after the brief hearing, escorted by United States Marshals.
The case now moves into a lengthy pre-trial phase likely to test legal, diplomatic and political boundaries simultaneously.
