Venezuelan dictator:
“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent president of my country,” Maduro said through an interpreter when the judge asked for his plea.
The judge cut him off moments later, saying, “A not guilty plea will be entered on behalf of Mr. Maduro.”
Flores followed, also speaking through an interpreter, saying, “Not guilty. Completely innocent.”
The couple was arraigned on a slate of federal charges. Prosecutors accuse Maduro of narco-terrorism conspiracy. Both he and Flores face counts tied to cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
A 25-page indictment unsealed Saturday alleges that for more than a quarter-century, Venezuelan leaders “have abused their positions of public trust and corrupted once-legitimate institutions to import tons of cocaine into the United States.”