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Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, concluded their first appearance before the U.S. justice system this Monday after pleading not guilty to all the charges they face in the Southern District Court of New York, reported the agency EFE.
The Venezuelan dictator, escorted under custody alongside his wife, appeared before a federal court in an unprecedented scene that marked a symbolic turning point for the power he held for years from Caracas.
During the hearing, his attorney, Barry Pollack, stated that he will not be requesting bail for Maduro at this time, although he left the option open for doing so in the future, as reported by EFE.
The decision not to request bail at this initial stage suggests a cautious legal strategy as the case begins to take shape in U.S. courts. The defense chooses to buy time in a process that, due to its political and judicial implications, goes beyond strictly legal matters.
According to information from Reuters, Maduro is facing four criminal charges that include accusations of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, and possession of military-grade weapons, including machine guns and destructive devices. Cilia Flores, a key figure in Venezuelan power and the president's wife, also pleaded not guilty.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 17, a date that is already generating anticipation both inside and outside of Venezuela, especially among migrant and exile communities who view this process as an unimaginable episode just a few years ago.
Beyond the legal technicalities, Maduro's appearance before a court in New York directly strikes at the narrative of power built by Chavismo over decades, reigniting the debate on impunity, international justice, and Venezuela's political future.
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