‘Soy inocente’: Maduro defiant in surreal New York courtroom spectacle | US news
ANicolás Maduro was escorted into a federal courtroom in Manhattan at midday Monday after his capture Saturday morning in Caracas, completing the arrested Venezuelan leader’s breathtaking journey from his capital to a U.S. courtroom.
It was a surreal sight amid the fallout from a brazen U.S. military operation to capture Maduro, which upended global politics and stunned observers in the United States and abroad.
In downtown Manhattan, the spectacle unfolded as Maduro’s larger-than-life persona quickly filled Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s courtroom with a mix of bravado, seriousness, banter and defiance.
Maduro, who was not handcuffed but shackled at the ankles, looked toward the jury box as he entered the court. Before taking his seat, Maduro declared to the public forum “Happy New Year!” In English.
His wife, Cilia Flores, followed shortly after, and she had two large bandages on her face; on the temple and forehead. Maduro was dressed in a blue shirt over a neon orange shirt, khaki pants, and Flores’ prison clothing reflected a similar color palette.
Maduro and Flores were present during their arraignment in a narcoterrorism case brought by Donald Trump’s Justice Department. They both put on headphones, as they had live translation from English to Spanish. Maduro occasionally glanced at his indictment and, at different times, scribbled on notebook paper.
Hellerstein joked about his small size and that “modern electronic equipment hides the judge.” The proceedings began in earnest with an exchange of greetings which gave little indication of the enormous importance of the events taking place in the room.
“Hello, Mr. Maduro,” Hellerstein said. Maduro gestured in response.
As Hellerstein summarized the charges in that indictment, Maduro could be seen shaking his head slightly, as if disagreeing with the allegations. Hellerstein asked him to confirm his name, as is customary in these proceedings.
Maduro said, “My name is Nicolás Maduro Moros,” then launched into a diatribe about his political position, insisting that he was president of Venezuela’s constitutional republic. “I have been here, kidnapped since January 3,” he said. “I was captured in my home.”
Hellerstein told Maduro there would be a time and place to make these arguments. He asked again: are you Nicolas Maduro Moros?
“I am Nicolas Maduro Moros,” he repeated again. Maduro said he had the charging documents in hand for “the first time” and did not need to read them in court because he wanted to do so himself.
Maduro’s standing behavior could be described as subtly provocative. Sometimes Maduro rested his knuckles on the table. For a few moments, Maduro’s hands remained clasped as if in prayer, but with his index fingers pointing forward, toward Hellerstein.
He pleaded not guilty shortly afterwards – expressing both a soy inocent and a no soy culprit. After Maduro sat down, the embattled leader’s lawyer made a mouth with his hand and shook his head.
This was apparently a warning from his lawyer. Maduro had to keep his diatribes to himself.
Then came Flores. She describes herself as the first lady of Venezuela.
Not guiltyshe said, completely inocent. “Not guilty, completely innocent.”
Shortly after, Maduro had something else to say in court. “I would like to make a request, your honor,” he said.
Maduro didn’t want anyone to take away his grades, as he wanted. “Can I have my grades?” The prosecution said it would work with prison officials to ensure he has his notebooks.
Neither Maduro nor his wife requested bail at this stage, but reserved the right to request provisional release at a later date. He and his wife’s lawyers requested medical treatment for them.
Flores’ attorney said that during her “abduction” she suffered “multiple” injuries, including a potential rib fracture.
Hellerstein has scheduled a conference on the case for March 17. When Maduro got up to leave, he slipped a pen into his notepad. A U.S. marshal noticed him and took the pen from him.
Someone in the audience shouted – accusing Maduro of being an illegitimate president. As Maduro walked through a door into a hallway, he insisted: “I am a kidnapped president – a prisoner of war!” »
