Maduro Appears in New York Court, Denies Charges and Affirms Presidency of Venezuela

Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, appeared briefly in a New York court, where he denied all charges against him and affirmed that he considers himself the legitimate president of the country. He told the judge that he was arrested at his home in Caracas and described himself as a prisoner of war.

According to international media outlets including Reuters and Al Jazeera, the case involves allegations related to drug trafficking and terrorism—accusations Maduro called “baseless” and categorically denied. In court, he stated that this was the first time he saw the indictment and preferred to review it personally.

The New York Times reported that the judge set the next hearing for March 17 and informed Maduro of his right to contact his country’s consulate, a right that he and his wife sought to exercise. NBC also reported that Maduro’s lawyer requested future bail release.

According to news agencies, the court session lasted about 30 minutes, after which Maduro and his wife left the courtroom. The case has sparked widespread political and legal reactions internationally, raising serious questions about the process of arrest, transfer, and judicial handling of a sitting president.