Captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges this morning in Manhattan.
Maduro and Flores are accused of conspiring with violent, dangerous drug traffickers for the last 25 years and possessing machine guns.
They appeared before Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old senior judge.
Hellerstein is also handling the case against the Venezuelan General Hugo Armando “Pollo” Carvajal, a former head of intelligence for the Chavista regime. Carvajal has decided to cooperate with the authorities, which is significant in Maduro’s trial.
This past May, Hellerstein issued a ruling that prohibited the Trump administration from utilizing the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans.
For updates about Venezuela, check our live blog here.
