Nicolas Maduro’s first appearance before a U.S. court framed the case as a collision between criminal jurisdiction and contested political authority. According to U.S. media accounts cited in the source text, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared on March 2026 before a federal court in Manhattan, New York. Addressing the court through an interpreter, Maduro declared, “Ben masumum. Suçlu değilim. Ben dürüst bir insanım. Hâlâ ülkemin başkanıyım,” asserting both innocence and continued presidential status. Judge Alvin Hellerstein interrupted the statement, responding that the proceedings would be fair.

The judge began the hearing at 12:02 by summarizing the indictment. Maduro, dressed in orange and beige prison clothing and wearing headphones for translation, listened as the charges were read aloud. The courtroom scene underscored the central tension of the case: a sitting head of state, by his own account, being tried as a criminal defendant within the U.S. federal system.

“I am Innocent” in Court

Judge Hellerstein outlined four charges against Maduro, including drug terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Maduro said he had seen the indictment for the first time in court and asked to read it personally. He also stated that he was unaware of his legal rights and claimed he had been taken from his home in Caracas to the United States against his will.

As he left the courtroom amid shouts from protesters outside, Maduro responded to a Spanish-language accusation—“You will pay the price for what you have done”—by saying, “I am a prisoner of war.” The remark reinforced his narrative that the case is not merely legal but political, rooted in conflict between states rather than individual criminal conduct.

Detention Conditions Under Scrutiny

Maduro’s legal team raised health concerns during the hearing. His lawyer informed Judge Hellerstein that Maduro had medical issues requiring attention. The court scheduled the second hearing for March 17 at 11:00 local time. Following the session, Maduro and Flores were returned to the Brooklyn Detention Center.

Outside the courthouse, a crowd gathered, chanting slogans as the proceedings concluded. The physical transfer of the defendants also drew attention: both Maduro and Flores were transported by helicopter from Brooklyn to Manhattan, appearing in prison attire and handcuffs, a visual that underscored the severity of the case.

Flores Injury Allegations Raised

Cilia Flores, 69, also appeared before the judge on the same day. Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, stated that Flores had suffered broken ribs and severe bruising while being detained by U.S. forces. He requested X-rays and a full physical examination. Flores rejected all charges, stating that she was I am innocent.”

The source text provides background on Flores’s political career. Born on October 15, 1956, in Tinaquillo, she is a lawyer specializing in labor and criminal law. She rose to prominence after leading the defense team of Hugo Chavez following the failed 1992 coup attempt and securing his release in 1994. Flores served as Venezuela’s attorney general between 2012 and 2013 and has been a member of parliament since 2015. Her estimated net worth is cited as between $2 million and $5 million.