Nicolás Maduro Claims Kidnapping During First Court Appearance in NYC

Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan leader, made a dramatic appearance in a New York City courtroom following his arrest by U.S. forces at his compound in Venezuela. During the arraignment, Maduro described his situation as being "kidnapped" and asserted his identity as the president of Venezuela. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to serious charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and possession of machine guns. The couple, dressed in jail attire, displayed calmness despite emotional reactions from the audience. The presiding judge urged Maduro to concentrate on the proceedings, while he maintained his innocence. Both Maduro and Flores will remain in federal custody without bail until their next court hearing scheduled for March 17.