Maduro breaks his silence and says he’s been ‘kidnapped’ by US in first court appearance as former president pleads not guilty: Live updates

Nicolas Maduro entered a not guilty plea after asking to read the federal indictment himself.

‘I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I am a decent man,’ Maduro said, according to court reporters.

Maduro told the judge it was the ‘very first time’ he had seen the indictment and that he ‘would rather read it personally.’

He proceeded to declare to New York federal judge Alvin K. Hellerstein that he was ‘kidnapped’ from his home, according to court reporters.

When asked by Hellerstein to identify himself, Maduro responded that he is the president of Venezuela and was he was ‘captured at my home in Caracas Venezuela.’

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both said they are not seeking bail or release at this time.

‘Mr. Maduro is not seeking release at this time,’ his attorney told the judge, according to court reporters.

Flores’ lawyer said she will not be seeking bail today, but plans to make an application later.

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein informed Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, that they have the right to speak with the Venezuelan consulate.

Both informed the judge that they would like to invoke that right.

Maduro said, ‘Yes, we understand, and we would like to have such consular visit.’

Flores also said, ‘Yes, I understand, and I would like for that consular visit to happen.’

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein cut off Nicolas Maduro as he rambled about his innocence during his first court appearance on narco-terrorism charges.

As Maduro entered his not-guilty plea, he insisted, ‘I am still president of my country,’ according to court reporters.

Hellerstein interrupted and said, ‘A plea of not guilty will be entered on behalf of Mr. Maduro.’

When asked again about his plea, Maduro said, ‘I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here.’

The brazen operation to capture despot Nicolas Maduro was, undeniably, one of the most daring raids in US military history.

In the dead of night, more than 150 warplanes snuck across the Caribbean into Venezuela. Armed to the teeth, they pummelled the country’s Russian-made defences and plunged the South American country’s capital, Caracas, into darkness.

Within two-and-a-half hours of getting the order from President Donald Trump, elite troops had infiltrated Maduro’s home and whisked him and his wife to the US, where the Trump administration planned to put the ‘narco-terrorist’ on trial for drugs and weapons charges.

Nicolas Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, entered a not guilty plea on narco-terrorism charges, according to court reporters.

When asked to identify herself, she said, ‘I am first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.’

She waived a formal reading of the indictment and entered her plea.

‘Not guilty, completely innocent,’ she said.

Stocks were up sharply Monday after Donald Trump announced plans to take over Venezuela’s oil industry following the capture of socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro.

The Dow was up 1.4 percent to new all-time highs, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq clocked a 0.9 percent gain and the broad-basket S&P 500 index rose 0.7 percent.

Crude oil prices remained remarkably stable as investors bet that the military action would not lead to broader geopolitical fallout. US crude fell 31 cents, or 0.54 percent, to $57.01 per barrel, while the global benchmark Brent fell 22 cents to $60.53.

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein told Nicolas Maduro it is his job to ensure that he gets a fair trial, according to court reporters.

‘It is my job in these pretrial proceedings and eventually trial to ensure this is a fair trial and a fair proceeding,’ Hellerstein said.

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia, have entered the New York City federal court room for their first court appearance, according to court reporters.

The ousted Venezuelan president and his wife are both wearing headsets to hear the proceedings as they are translated.

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein greeted Maduro with ‘good morning,’ and Maduro reportedly gave him a nod and a wave in return.

US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein will be presiding over the bench at Nicolas Maduro’s court hearing today.

The 92-year-old was nominated and confirmed to the bench by President Bill Clinton in 1998.

He has been a senior judge in the Southern District of New York since 2011 and has overseen many terrorism cases, including cases from the 9/11 attacks.

Delcy Rodriguez, the acting President of Venezuela, made a statement on Instagram calling for cooperation with the United States.

‘Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence,’ she wrote.

‘We consider it a priority to move toward a balanced and respectful international relationship between the United States and Venezuela, and between Venezuela and the countries of the region, based on sovereign equality and non-interference.

‘We extend an invitation to the U.S. government to work together on a cooperation agenda, oriented toward shared development, within the framework of international law, and to strengthen lasting community coexistence.’

She also had a message for Donald Trump.

‘President Donald Trump: Our people and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. That has always been the position of President Nicolás Maduro and is that of all Venezuela at this moment,’ she wrote.

‘That is the Venezuela in which I believe, to which I have dedicated my life. My dream is for Venezuela to be a great power where all good Venezuelans can come together.’

Nicolas Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, has been tapped as Venezuela’s interim leader.

Rodriguez is a hardline socialist and Maduro loyalist who has helped him maintain his regime for over a decade.