"Toppled Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has made his first appearance in a US courtroom on narco-terrorism charges that the Trump administration cited to justify his capture and transfer to New York. Maduro and his wife appeared in a brief procedural hearing that is expected to open a prolonged legal battle over whether he can be tried in the United States. His lawyers are expected to challenge the legality of his arrest, arguing he is immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of state."
"Prosecutors accuse Maduro, along with his wife, son, and three others, of working with drug cartels to move thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. If convicted, they could face life in prison. Maduro was led into the courtroom at 12:01 pm wearing a blue prison uniform, shook hands with his lawyer, and took his seat. His wife was brought in moments later, and both donned headsets to follow the proceedings through translation. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein took the bench at 12:03 p.m."
Nicolás Maduro appeared in a New York federal courtroom on narco-terrorism charges and pleaded not guilty. The Trump administration cited those charges to justify his capture and transfer to New York. His lawyers plan to contest the legality of his arrest and claim head-of-state immunity while the US does not recognize him as Venezuela's legitimate leader. Prosecutors allege Maduro, his wife, son, and three others worked with drug cartels to move thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States, exposing them to possible life sentences. Maduro and his wife attended a brief procedural hearing with translation headsets while a judge took the bench.
Read at www.dw.com
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