NEW YORK (FN) — A motorcade carrying ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived Monday morning at a New York City courthouse, where Maduro is set to appear on drugs and weapons charges. The former leader was captured in a U.S. military operation Saturday and flown to the United States, marking a dramatic escalation in Washington’s confrontation with Venezuela.
Maduro’s arraignment is expected to be closely watched worldwide, as it represents not only a legal battle but also a geopolitical flashpoint. The charges against him include allegations of drug trafficking and weapons smuggling tied to a decades‑long conspiracy. Prosecutors are preparing to outline counts that could carry decades in prison, while defense lawyers are expected to challenge the legality of his capture.
Court officials said the hearing will begin with a formal reading of the indictment, followed by questions to determine whether Maduro understands the charges. He is expected to enter a plea, and the judge may set conditions for pretrial detention. Security around the courthouse has been tightened, with federal marshals preparing for demonstrations outside. Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro will be represented Monday by Barry Pollack, a deeply experienced U.S. trial attorney who currently represents Julian Assange and brokered the deal for his plea and release last summer. Mark Donnelly, a white‑collar lawyer from Houston and a former Justice Department prosecutor, notified the court he will represent Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores. Donnelly’s firm biography says he speaks Spanish.
Pollack does not come from the typical world of lawyers who represent defendants in drug trafficking cases. Instead, he specializes in unusual white‑collar and national security matters, especially ones with an intense political cross‑section. He briefly represented Pras Michel, the former Fugees star convicted in a sprawling campaign finance case.
President Donald Trump declared the United States “in charge” of Venezuela following the strikes, while acting president Delcy Rodríguez called for “cooperation” with Washington — a notable softening in tone after initially condemning the attack. U.S. officials said they are working to establish a pliant interim government in Caracas, prioritizing administrative stability and repairing the country’s oil infrastructure. Venezuelans, meanwhile, are hunkering down amid apprehension of what may come next.
Inside Venezuela, the National Assembly opened a new legislative term Monday with lawmakers demanding Maduro’s return from U.S. custody. Assembly leaders argued that his capture violated Venezuela’s sovereignty and insisted that any trial should take place on Venezuelan soil. The demand underscored the deep divisions within the country, where some citizens welcomed Maduro’s removal while others viewed it as foreign interference.
Pro‑government deputy Fernando Soto Rojas, who directed the parliamentary debate, denounced the operation as “a barbaric, treacherous, and cowardly attack.” He accused Trump of seeking to act as “prosecutor, judge, and policeman of the world,” vowing that Venezuela would show “full solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolás Maduro, returns victorious.”
Trump has used the moment to issue fresh threats against other nations. He implied that military action could be taken in Colombia, told Mexico to “get its act together” on drugs, and declared that the United States “needs Greenland.” His remarks have raised concerns among allies and adversaries alike about the scope of U.S. ambitions following the Venezuela strikes.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet later this week to discuss the situation. Secretary‑General António Guterres warned that the operation sets a “dangerous precedent,” while U.S. officials insisted America is “not at war with Venezuela or its people.” Economist Jeffrey Sachs added his own warning, cautioning against allowing international law “to wither into irrelevance” in the face of unilateral military actions.
As Maduro enters the courtroom in New York under heavy security, the drama underscores the uncertain future of Venezuela — a nation now caught between U.S. intervention, parliamentary defiance, and the search for a new political order.
