Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York federal court on Monday, January 5, 2026, where he formally denied several criminal charges brought against him by United States authorities.
Wearing a prison uniform and leg shackles, the deposed leader insisted on his innocence during his first legal hearing following a weekend military operation that saw him seized from his residence in Caracas.
Okay News reports that Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also appeared before the judge and entered a plea of not guilty to charges involving drug trafficking and the illegal possession of weapons. Through a translator, Maduro maintained that he remains the legitimate leader of Venezuela, describing himself to the court as a “decent man” who has been wrongfully accused.
The legal proceedings come amidst intense international debate over the legality of the U.S. mission, with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressing concern that international law may have been disregarded.
While Maduro’s legal team has not yet requested bail, the court has scheduled the next hearing for March 17, 2026. Meanwhile, energy stocks in the United States have seen an uptick as investors anticipate potential shifts in control over Venezuela’s significant oil reserves.
