Venezuela’s deposed President Nicolas Maduro described himself as “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges at a U.S. court on Monday.
"I'm innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country," Maduro told a judge.
Maduro was making his first appearance in an American courtroom Monday on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York.
Maduro, wearing a blue jail uniform, and his wife were led into court around noon for a brief, but required, legal proceeding that will likely kick off a prolonged legal fight over whether he can be put on trial in the U.S. Both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it is translated into Spanish.
The couple were transported under armed guard early Monday from the Brooklyn jail where they've been detained to a Manhattan courthouse.
