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Maduro appears in US court
The ousted Venezuelan leader and his wife pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges in a New York courtroom. A defiant Maduro told the judge he had been kidnapped in Caracas.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty on Monday to federal drug trafficking and related charges during their first court appearance in a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan. The judge set their next court date for March 17.
The couple is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn following their capture by U.S. forces. The arrest came after months of military buildup and what President Donald Trump described as a “large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.” Speaking on Sunday, Mr. Trump said the United States is now “in charge” of Venezuela, signaling a dramatic escalation in U.S. involvement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that while the U.S. does not intend to directly govern Venezuela, it plans to exert “tremendous leverage” through measures such as an oil quarantine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the administration’s stance, saying that “President Trump sets the terms.”
In Caracas, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in on Monday as Venezuela’s acting president amid growing uncertainty over the country’s leadership and future governance.
The developments come as President Trump has renewed calls for expanded U.S. influence abroad, including reiterating interest in a U.S. takeover of Greenland and threatening possible action against Colombia and Cuba.
Senior administration officials briefed U.S. lawmakers on the situation in Venezuela on Monday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described the briefing as “vague” and “unsatisfying,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Maduro’s capture as “decisive and justified.”
