Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro stood before a federal judge in Manhattan on Monday, just 48 hours after a high-stakes U.S. military raid on his Caracas residence ended his 12-year grip on power.
The 63-year-old, appearing alongside his wife Cilia Flores, entered a plea of not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism, though his demeanor remained combative. Despite his capture by U.S. commandos in a pre-dawn Saturday assault supported by warplanes and a naval blockade, Maduro rejected the authority of the court.
According to U.S. media reports, Maduro characterized the military operation as an illegal seizure of a sovereign leader.
“I’m innocent, I’m not guilty,” Maduro told the federal judge, asserting that he had been “kidnapped” from his homeland.
Refusing to acknowledge his ouster, he declared: “I’m still the president of my country.” His wife, Cilia Flores, echoed his plea of not guilty.
As the legal proceedings unfolded in New York, President Donald Trump issued a series of bombshell statements over the weekend, claiming that the United States is now effectively running Venezuela. The President’s focus is squarely on the nation’s massive—though crumbling—petroleum sector.
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When questioned about his expectations for the interim administration led by Delcy Rodriguez, who has transitioned from Maduro’s loyal deputy to a cooperative acting leader, Trump was blunt about his requirements:
“We need total access. We need access to the oil and other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” Trump said.
This aggressive stance on Venezuela’s resources—the largest proven reserves on earth—sent shares of Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips surging on Wall Street early Monday.
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