I’m not guilty of cocaine trafficking; Trump kidnapped me: Maduro
Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Monday, pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other crimes, and said he was “kidnapped” while appearing before the court.
Two days after the duo were captured by the U.S. military and transported to America to face trial, Mr Maduro and his wife both appeared before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
“I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man,” Mr Maduro said through an interpreter after he was asked for his plea,” New York Times reported.
According to the report, Mr Maduro identified himself to the judge as president of Venezuela and said he had been kidnapped.
On Saturday, Mr Maduro was captured and flown to the U.S. after a huge air raid on Caracas by U.S. forces.
At a news conference, President Donald Trump revealed the possibility of the U.S. governing Venezuela or the Vice President overseeing the affairs of the country in the absence of Mr Maduro.
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, on Saturday, released court documents indicting Mr Maduro for cocaine trafficking among other crimes, adding that the captured Venezuelan leader is now facing charges of cocaine trafficking among others.
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