Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, made their first appearance in a New York federal court on Monday. The high-profile couple arrived in handcuffs, with Flores visibly injured and wearing several bandages on her face.
Her attorney, Mark Donnelly, informed the court that Flores sustained "significant injuries" during the U.S. military raid on their Caracas compound. He requested an immediate medical evaluation and X-rays to determine if she suffered a fractured rib during the capture.
Maduro and Flores both pleaded not guilty to the federal charges leveled against them following their dramatic "abduction" on Saturday. Maduro remained defiant throughout the proceeding, declaring through a translator, “I am president of the Republic of Venezuela. I am a kidnapped president, prisoner of war.”
The former dictator faces four serious counts, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and various weapons charges. Flores is charged with three offenses, primarily focused on cocaine importation conspiracy and the possession of destructive devices.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered both defendants to remain in custody without bail. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 17, while the Trump administration has already moved to appoint an interim government in Venezuela.