Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan leader, pleaded not guilty in a federal courtroom in Lower Manhattan on Monday to charges including drug trafficking, claiming he was kidnapped during a U.S. military raid on Caracas. Maduro insisted he was still Venezuela's president.

Maduro, appearing before Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, stated through an interpreter, "I'm innocent. I'm not guilty... I am a decent man. I am still president of my country." His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty, declaring herself "completely innocent." Flores, who wore a short-sleeve navy shirt over an orange prison uniform, had a bandage on her forehead and apparent bruising near her right eye. The pleas came two days after Maduro and his wife were captured in the U.S. military raid.

The hearing concluded with an unidentified man in the gallery addressing Maduro in Spanish, stating he would "pay for his crimes."

The charges against Maduro stem from alleged involvement in drug trafficking and other crimes, accusations he vehemently denies. The U.S. government has long sought Maduro's removal from power, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president of Venezuela. This action reflects a broader geopolitical struggle involving competing claims of legitimacy and accusations of authoritarianism.

The U.S. military raid that led to Maduro's capture marks a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuela. The implications of this action are far-reaching, potentially impacting international relations, particularly with countries that view it as an infringement on Venezuelan sovereignty.

The case now proceeds to the next phase of the legal process, with further hearings and potential trial dates to be determined. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further political and diplomatic fallout as the legal proceedings unfold. The current time in Caracas, Venezuela, is 3:27 p.m.