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By Adeola Adeosun and Billal Rahman
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Cilia Flores, wife of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, is "in good spirits" and prepared for a "long road ahead" with court proceedings, her attorney Mark E. Donnelly of Parker Sánchez & Donnelly PLLC told Newsweek on Monday.
Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges during their first court appearance since being seized from their Caracas home in a U.S. military operation Saturday.
Flores appeared in court with visible bandages on her forehead and right temple, having sustained what her lawyer described as "significant injuries" during her capture.
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Why It Matters
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Saturday that Maduro and his wife had been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Maduro was charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. If convicted, Maduro and his wife could face life in prison.
The capturing of Flores and Maduro comes after months of mounting tension between Washington and Venezuela. President Donald Trump first ordered a large-scale U.S. military build-up in the Caribbean and South American waters in August last year and later issued a blockade of U.S. sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers.
Caracas condemned the blockade and said it was an effort to undermine Venezuelan sovereignty and seize its oil wealth. Maduro also claimed the U.S. operations were a guise to oust him from power.
The military action also follows previous strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. At least 100 suspected drug smugglers have been killed as a result of the strikes.
What To Know
Maduro and Flores were transported on Monday under armed guard from Brooklyn detention to Manhattan federal court, where 92-year-old U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein presided.
The couple used headsets to hear Spanish translations of the English-language proceedings. Maduro repeatedly protested his capture, telling the court "I was captured" and "I am here kidnapped," before Judge Hellerstein interrupted, noting there would be appropriate time and place to address such claims.
Defense attorney Barry Pollack, whose clients have included WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, indicated plans to challenge the arrest's legality, arguing Maduro holds head-of-state immunity. However, Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega unsuccessfully attempted the same defense after his 1990 capture. The U.S. doesn't recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader following his disputed 2024 reelection.
The 25-page indictment accuses the couple of ordering kidnappings, beatings, and murders of those who owed drug money or undermined their trafficking operation, including a local drug boss's killing in Caracas.
Outside the courthouse, protesters clashed over the military action, while inside, a man identifying himself as a former Venezuelan political prisoner confronted Maduro, calling him "illegitimate." Maduro responded: "I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war."
What People Are Saying
Mark E. Donnelly, Attorney for Cilia Flores, told Newsweek on Monday: "Our client is in good spirits. We look forward to reviewing and challenging the evidence the government has. While we would love to present our side now, we will wait to do so in court at the appropriate time. The first lady is aware that there is a long road ahead and is prepared."
Nicolás Maduro, when asked in court for his plea to the charges, he stated: "I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country.”
Maduro’s son and Venezuelan congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra said on Monday: “If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be any nation that refuses to submit. This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability."
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X on Saturday: "Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers."
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What Happens Next
The case will proceed through the U.S. legal system, with Maduro and Flores's next court appearance scheduled for March 17.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Update 1/5/26, 3:12 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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