Nicolás Maduro appeared this Monday before a federal court in New York and took advantage of his first hearing to present himself as a victim, declare himself still "the president of Venezuela," and denounce what he termed a "kidnapping" carried out by the United States.
The scene, described by several journalists present in the room, portrayed an image of political defiance, human tension, and a carefully crafted discourse for the judicial stage.
According to the report by CNN reporter Laura Coates, Maduro appeared “assertive” and “confident,” with a firm voice and each word pronounced intentionally. During his speech, delivered in Spanish with the help of an interpreter, he described himself as “innocent” and “a decent man,” while maintaining that he was captured in his home in Caracas and treated like a “prisoner of war.”
Coates detailed that the Chavista dictator constantly took notes and tapped his fingers on the table, in a manner that conveyed control and determination.
The use of an interpreter, according to senior legal analyst of CNN Elie Honig, may have allowed Maduro to extend his responses beyond what the judge requested.
Honig explained that, since he was not speaking directly in English, the judge had to wait for the complete translation before intervening, which made it difficult to curtail a discourse that was more political than strictly procedural.
In that context, Maduro not only answered the formal questions but also reiterated his narrative of innocence, legitimacy, and persecution.
The journalist Carla Angola TV provided new details from the courthouse. According to her report, Maduro had a notebook with him where he was writing down what the judge was saying and even requested to take those papers to his cell, a request that was denied.
During the hearing, the judge requested the prosecution to disclose the evidence in the case, while the defense made it clear that it does not seek bail, but rather aims to challenge the legality of the detention.
The lawyer argued that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have physical injuries and medical issues following the extraction, including bruises and possible fractures in the ribs.
The defense strategy aims to present the capture as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and to claim immunity, arguing that the arrest took place in a "sovereign state."
A broader analysis was published by El País, which confirmed that Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the four federal charges related to narcoterrorism brought against them by the U.S. justice system.
Guarded by agents and dressed in prison attire, both appeared before Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who scheduled the next hearing for March 17.
Outside the court, the scene was equally tense. While supporters of Chavismo were calling for Maduro's release, exiled Venezuelans shouted their indignation. A producer from CNN witnessed a man inside the courtroom yell in Spanish that "he would pay for what he did to Venezuela." Maduro responded by pointing to the sky and stating that he was "a man of God" and the president of the country.
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