“I am innocent and I am still the president of my country” — Maduro in the first hearing in New York

“I am innocent and I am still the president of my country” — Maduro in the first hearing in New York

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores attended the first hearing in New York on January 5. They were charged with narcoterrorism, cocaine trafficking and possession of weapons and explosives with the intention of harming the United States. The couple denied all charges.
“I am innocent. I am an honest man and I am still the president of my country,” Maduro said in court. Cilia Flores also denied the charges, identifying herself as the first lady of Venezuela.
The judge set the next hearing for March 17, 2026. The main trial is expected to begin in 2027. The couple has not yet asked for bail. Maduro and Flores will be held in a maximum-security prison in Brooklyn until the end of the trial.