Maduro Pleads Not Guilty After U.S. Captures Venezuelan President
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The deposed Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, pleaded not guilty in a U.S. court on Monday. He faces charges of drug trafficking, weapons crimes, and narco-terrorism.
His court appearance followed a shocking military operation. U.S. special forces captured Maduro in Venezuela two days earlier. Former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the mission.
The hearing in Manhattan federal court was brief and formal. It lasted about 30 minutes. Maduro confirmed his identity and acknowledged the four charges against him.
The legal procedure contrasted sharply with the operation's global impact. The capture has been condemned as a "crime of aggression" by several countries at a United Nations meeting. The action has escalated international tensions over Venezuela.