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Beneath heavy guard, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, have been flown from a federal jail in Brooklyn to Manhattan on Monday morning to make their first court docket look since being captured by U.S. forces over the weekend.
Surrounded by Drug Enforcement Company brokers, the shackled Maduro shuffled from the helicopter to an armored car, and was then pushed to a federal courthouse, the place he was greeted by the New York Metropolis Police Division and protesters — on one aspect of the road have been these cheering Maduro’s downfall, and on the opposite have been these opposing his seize and detention.
Contained in the courtroom, Maduro, clad in a jail jumpsuit, was initially defiant, declaring by means of a translator that he’s a “first rate man,” harmless of all expenses.
“I’m nonetheless president of my nation,” he mentioned. In the meantime in Caracas, Maduro’s vice chairman and longtime confidant Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president.
Each Maduro and his spouse pleaded not responsible.
Jane Rosenberg 
At one level, it appeared Maduro was attempting to grandstand, however U.S. District Choose Alvin Hellerstein lower him off, like he would anybody, saying he simply wanted to know Maduro’s id and if he understood his rights and the costs towards him.
Maduro faces 4 counts of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine and weapons-related offenses. He was indicted throughout President Trump’s first time period in 2020. In a superseding indictment unsealed Saturday, federal prosecutors have accused Maduro, his spouse, son and others of partnering with a number of the most violent, prolific drug traffickers and narco terrorists on the planet to distribute tons of cocaine to the USA for many years.
Flores’ legal professional, Mark Donnelly, mentioned she might have suffered an harm to her ribs through the early Saturday morning operation to seize her and Maduro. She additionally appeared in court docket on Monday with a bandage on her brow. It is unclear if the previous Venezuelan president was injured, however his legal professional, Barry Pollack, informed the court docket he has well being points that may require consideration. Hellerstein promised them each full medical consideration.
The following listening to is ready for March 17, and Maduro and his spouse have waived their proper to a speedy trial, so the complete felony proceedings towards them may turn out to be a prolonged ordeal.
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