New York: Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan leader who was captured by the US and brought here to face narco-terrorism charges, told a federal judge that he is innocent and is a “prisoner of war”.
Brought to court under heavy security on Monday for his first hearing, he said through a translator, “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war”.
US Delta Force troops took him and his wife, Cilia Flores, from a military base in Venezuela in a precise operation on Saturday morning and flew them to New York.
During the court hearing, which was procedural, both said they were innocent of the allegations against them in the 25-page charge sheet.
“I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still the president of my country,” Maduro said.
“I am the first lady of the Republic of Venezuela,” Flores told the court, equally.
As Maduro started to talk about being kidnapped, Judge Alvin Hellerstein interrupted him and said he only needed to identify himself to the court.
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, told the court that he might raise the legality of arresting a head of state, who would have sovereign immunity, and the legality of his “military abduction”.
Both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have said that the action to bring down Maduro was law enforcement and not a war.
Maduro and Flores, who are housed in a federal lockup which has been criticised by judges themselves for its appalling conditions, were brought from there by a chopper to a heliport near the court and brought there in a high-security convoy.
Maduro, who had ruled his country with an iron fist, was reduced to a common prisoner in the way he was treated by his guards and the ordinary garb he wore, even if he was flown in on a helicopter for security reasons.
As he entered the courtroom, flanked by US Marshals, Maduro wished everyone, “Buenos dias” — “Good day” in Spanish.
Flores had bandages on her forehead, and her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, told the court that she had been injured when US forces seized her and may have broken ribs.
The main charges against the two include narco-terrorism conspiracy for allegedly trafficking tonnes of cocaine to the US using Venezuelan military and intelligence to protect cocaine shipments.
To strengthen the narco-terrorism allegations, they have been charged with possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess them.
They are also accused of collaborating with terrorist organisations in Colombia.
Some of the charges that Maduro faces have the potential for a death penalty.
For allegedly transferring the money obtained through the drug trade, Maduro is charged with money laundering.
Flores also faces bribery charges relating to drug cartels.
While Maduro and Flores were in a 26th-floor courtroom, below, hundreds of supporters and opponents of Maduro were kept apart by police as they screamed for their causes.
Venezuelan flags were on both sides, while Maduro’s supporters also waved flags with Trump’s name.
Maduro was earlier assigned a lawyer by the court, but he has chosen his own attorney, Pollack, whose notable client was WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange.
Hellerstein, who is presiding over the Maduro case, is 92 years old and still active as a senior judge, a post-retirement position that permits continuation in performing judicial duties.
Former President Bill Clinton appointed him in 1998, and he has presided over several important cases, including some involving the 9/11 terror attacks.
(IANS)
