Image: from Pamela Falk, Correspondent, United Nations X @PamelaFalk
By Open Chronicle staff with Agencies
Ex-Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York court over narco-terrorism and weapons charges, dressed in khaki prison attire and wearing translation headphones, while police managed pro- and anti-Maduro protesters outside.
Maduro’s legal team requested dismissal of the case, arguing that US sanctions prevented them from using Venezuelan government funds to pay for their defense, while prosecutors contended that Maduro had “plundered” Venezuela’s wealth and should not access those funds. Judge Alvin Hellerstein emphasized the right to defense, noting he would issue a ruling later, but declined to dismiss the overall case based on the fee dispute.
Former Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, appears in US courtroom to face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and weapons offences, which could result in a life sentence if he is convicted. Frank Ucciardo reports pic.twitter.com/V0wrpfHuxQ
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The couple previously pleaded not guilty, claiming Maduro had been “kidnapped” during a January raid by US forces at his Caracas compound. Following the seizure, former vice president Delcy Rodríguez assumed control in Venezuela, allowing the US to gain influence over the country’s energy sector and oil sales framework, part of a broader goal of American energy stability.
Latin American reactions were mixed, with regional leaders warning of a “dangerous precedent.” Cuba’s President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, condemned the US operation as criminal, Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged the UN Security Council to respond, and Mexico and Brazil labeled the actions “unacceptable,” while some media criticized Maduro as a dictator despite opposing the US intervention.