Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro entered a not guilty plea in a federal courthouse in New York City on Monday, following his abduction by the US in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Appearing shackled and in prison clothes and slippers, Maduro told 92-year-old judge Alvin Hellerstein through an interpreter: "I am the president of Venezuela."
"I was kidnapped," he added. "I am a decent man," and "I am innocent," Maduro said.
No cameras were allowed inside the courtroom, but several reporters were allowed to observe the proceedings.
Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, did request bail. Given how high-profile the case is, it was very unlikely he would have been released to wait out his legal process as a free man.
