Maduro breaks his silence and says he’s been ‘kidnapped’ by US in first court appearance as former president pleads not guilty: Live updates

Nicolas Maduro entered a not guilty plea after asking to read the federal indictment himself in a New York courtroom on Monday.

‘I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man,’ Maduro said, according to court reporters.

Maduro told New York federal judge Alvin K. Hellerstein it was the ‘very first time’ he had seen the indictment and that he ‘would rather read it personally.’

He proceeded to declare to the judge that he was ‘kidnapped’ from his home, according to court reporters.

When asked by Hellerstein to identify himself, Maduro responded that he is the president of Venezuela and was he was ‘captured at my home in Caracas Venezuela.’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s attorney Barry Pollack was seen leaving the Manhattan courthouse after his client’s arraignment on Monday.

When asked his thoughts on Maduro’s claim that he was ‘kidnapped’ from his home in Caracas, Pollack replied: ‘I think what President Maduro said in court speaks for itself.’

Nicolas Maduro was seen wearing a blindfold, ear defenders and a Nike Tech tracksuit hours after he was captured from his home in Venezuela.

While it’s not clear whether Maduro was captured wearing the tracksuit or whether he was given it by US forces, he triggered a near-total sell out of the colorway on the US Nike website within hours of the photograph’s release, Polymarket found.

As Nicolas Maduro was leaving court, a man in the audience reportedly told him, ‘You will pay on behalf of Venezuela.’

Maduro replied, ‘In the name of god, I will be free.’

Nicolas Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, called the Venezuelan president’s capture a ‘military abduction.’

While noting concerns about Maduro’s role as the head of a sovereign state, Pollack said, ‘There are questions about the legality of his military abduction.’

Nicolas Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, wore a bandage on her forehead and had bruising on her right eye as she appeared in court.

She reportedly is suffering bruising on her ribs.

Court reporters noted that she held on to a US marshal for support as she stood up to enter her not guilty plea.

Nicolas Maduro called himself a prisoner of war as he was leaving the New York City courtroom where he pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges.

‘I am a prisoner of war,’ he reportedly said in Spanish.

When asked whether he could follow the court proceedings, Nicola Maduro replied, ‘I’ve understood it, and I’m taking notes.’

He then told the judge, ‘I would like to ask that my notes be respected and that I be allowed to keep them.’

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein replied, ‘I believe you are entitled to keep them.’

Nicolas Maduro’s lawyer to the judge that ‘there are some health and medical issues” for the ousted Venezuelan president ‘that will require attention.’

An attorney for his wife, Cilia Flores, also noted, ‘as you can see,’ she sustained ‘significant injuries during her abduction.’

Nicolas Maduro and his wife’s court hearing has concluded, and Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein scheduled the couple’s next appearance on March 17 at 11am ET.

Maduro reportedly shook his lawyer’s hand before leaving and handed his notes over to a US Marshal.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is reportedly fidgeting throughout his court hearing.

Reporters have noted that he occasionally clasps his hands and lowers his head, and glances around the room.

Maduro and his wife are seated apart with one chair separating them, and they are both wearing dark prison scrubs.