Defiant Maduro Pleads NOT Guilty In U.S. Court, Declares He Is Still President of Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were captured during a dramatic United States military operation early Saturday morning (2nd January, 2026), made their first U.S. Court appearance today (Monday 5th January, 2026) in Manhattan, to face charges related to cocaine trafficking. 

The couple were transferred from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn via helicopter and arrived in Manhattan shortly after 7:30 AM ET.⁠

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transferred from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn via helicopter and arrived in Manhattan shortly after 7:30 a.m. ET.⁠

Follow live coverage: https://t.co/q9hNks5HIg pic.twitter.com/HWZ3p2PYa4

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 5, 2026

According to reports, Maduro declared his innocence through a translator in Court and said he is still the President of Venezuela. Flores also pleaded not guilty. The next hearing is set for 17th March, 2026. 

Earlier in the proceeding, Judge Alvin Hellerstein had Maduro stand and asked him, “Are you sir, Nicolás Maduro Moros?” Maduro responded in Spanish, telling the Judge through a translator that he was captured at his home in Caracas, Venezuela. The Judge then interjected, telling the ousted President, “There’ll be a time and place to go into all of this.”

“Your Counsel will be able to make motions addressing the legal sufficiency of what was done,” he added.

Meanwhile, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, identified herself as the “first lady of the Republic of Venezuela,” when the Judge asked her to identify herself. When asked for her plea to the charges, she said, “Not guilty, completely innocent.”

A lawyer for Maduro said his client was not seeking bail at this time but reserved the right to make an application at a future date. An attorney for Maduro's wife made the same request. Judge Hellerstein granted those requests.

The Judge also asked the ousted Venezuelan President and his wife if they understood the proceedings through their translators.

“Yes, I understood it and I have been taking notes,” said Maduro.

“Yes, I've understood everything completely,” his wife said.

The lawyer for Maduro also said his client had some health and medical issues and requested that he receive the appropriate attention.

Flores's lawyer said she suffered significant injuries during her capture in Venezuela. She may have suffered a fracture or bruising to her ribs, the lawyer said, asking that she be evaluated.

Maduro's lawyer signaled that there would be significant pre-trial litigation over the legality of his client’s arrest. He said his client was the head of a sovereign State, which brought privileges and immunities. The lawyer also questioned the legality of Maduro's capture by U.S forces.

Toward the end of the hearing, Maduro asked through a translator that the notes he took during the hearing not be taken from him. “I would like to ask that my notes be respected and I be allowed to keep them,” he said. The Judge ordered both sides to co-ordinate on maintaining Maduro’s notes.

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday evening (4th January, 2026) that the U.S. would call the shots in Venezuela. The U.S. plan for Venezuela includes “taking a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground” and sharing it in part with Venezuelans, he said. Shares in U.S. energy companies have since rallied, with Chevron up more than 4%.

The current oil-rich nation’s de facto leader is leftist Delcy Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s Vice President before his capture. After initially demanding Maduro’s release, Rodríguez struck a softer tone toward the U.S. on Sunday. 

The U.S. Justice Department and federal law enforcement agencies defended their role in the seizure of Maduro, saying in a joint statement that the U.S. had “pursued every lawful opportunity to resolve this matter peacefully.” 

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting this morning (Monday 5th January, 2026), where Russia and China condemned the U.S.’s actions.

Trump has threatened Colombia over its role in drug flows, and said Cuba is ready to fall. He also repeated his position that the U.S. needs to control Greenland for its own national security. 

Colombia has since reinforced its border with Venezuela, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro warning that he would “take up arms” if the U.S. decides to attack him or his country, following a series of threats from President Trump.

Colombia has reinforced its border with Venezuela amid recent U.S. military action that saw President Nicolas Maduro being captured by U.S. forces and taken to the United States.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro warns that he would “take up arms” if the United States decides to… pic.twitter.com/E0g3LwguG8

— CNC3TV (@CNC3TV) January 5, 2026

More on this as it becomes available. 

This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

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