Maduro makes second appearance at New York courthouse

Xinhua
26 Mar 2026, 23:15 GMT+10

NEW YORK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made his second appearance Thursday morning in a New York court after his forcible seizure by U.S. troops in a military raid in Caracas in early January.

Protesters gathered outside the court, which was heavily guarded by law enforcement officers, shouting slogans and demanding that Maduro be freed immediately.

During his first arraignment on Jan. 5, Maduro pleaded not guilty to all U.S. charges against him, including drug trafficking, and told the court that he was "kidnapped" at his Caracas residence and that he remains the president of Venezuela.

Maduro's lawyer is expected to continue pushing the judge to throw out the charges and argue that the United States is violating his constitutional rights by blocking Venezuelan government funds from paying for his legal costs.

On Jan. 3, U.S. military forces launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, before transporting them to New York. The U.S. attacks have shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.

The couple has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since their seizure in Caracas.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.

More Information

North America

Section

Maduro makes second appearance at New York courthouse

NEW YORK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made his second appearance Thursday morning in a New York court...

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff confirms Pakistan acting as intermediary between US, Iran

Washington, DC [US], March 26 (ANI): United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said on Thursday that 15-point action...

Meta and Google fined for causing child addiction

The verdict comes after Facebooks parent company was ordered to pay $375 million for profiting from exposing youngsters to online abuse...

Why Washington needs talks with Tehran more than it admits

Behind Trumps rhetoric lies a search for strategic pause, political cover, and a way to contain rising costs In recent days, there...

Shipping disruptions, rising input costs strain fertiliser markets; managing impact through coordinated response: Fertiliser Association of India

By Kaushal Verma New Delhi [India], March 26 (ANI): Shipping disruptions in West Asia and rising input costs are adding pressure...

India holds bilateral talks with Russia, Peru, Mexico on sidelines of WTO MC14

New Delhi [India], March 26 (ANI): India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held a series of bilateral meetings with trade representatives...

International

Section