“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man" ::::: Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty to narco-terrorism charges in US court

 The deposed leader of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, pleaded “not guilty” to all four counts against him before the judge Alvin Hellerstein in New York. 

Charges include - drug-terrorism conspiracy, 

cocaine-importation conspiracy, 

Possession of machine guns and destructive devices.

Nicolás Maduro Guerra, who is an elected representative in Venezuela, appeared before the country’s national assembly and said that the US “kidnapped” his father and first lady Cilia Flores.

Lawyers for both Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, said that their clients won’t seek bail at this time. The attorneys added that they’ll seek an application at a later date. 

During the court proceedings, Maduro said that he would read the full indictment, but had not seen the full document, and only discussed it “partially” with his lawyers.  

Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, addressed the security council today, insisting that there is “no war in Venezuela” after the large scale strikes on the country and the capture of its president and first lady.

“We are not occupying a country. This was a law enforcement operation in furtherance of lawful indictments that have existed for decades,” Waltz added, claiming that there is precedent for this kind of action after the US captured the former leader of Panama, Manuel Noriega, in 1989.

Today, Waltz said that the “overwhelming evidence” of Maduro’s crimes will be “presented openly in US court proceedings”. A reminder that the deposed president is charged with drug-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and weapons possession.

“Maduro is not just an indicted drug trafficker. He was an illegitimate so called president,” the ambassador said. “I want to reiterate President Trump gave diplomacy a chance. He offered Maduro multiple offerings he tried to de escalate. Maduro refused to take them.”

At the UN security council’s emergency meeting today, China condemned the military action by the US in Venezuela.

“As a permanent member of the Council, the US has disregarded the grave concerns of the international community, wantonly trampled upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests, and seriously violated the principles of sovereign equality,” said Fu Cong, China’s representative to the UN.

“No country can act as the world’s police, nor can any state presume to be the international judge … We demand that the United States change its course, cease its bullying and coercive practices”