00:00Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug charges in his first appearance in a U.S.
00:08court in New York on Monday, just days after being captured from Caracas in a shock U.S.
00:14military operation. Maduro's wife, Celia Flores, also entered a not guilty plea on similar charges.
00:22Court records say Maduro has retained attorney Barry Joel Poyac, best known for representing
00:30WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The judge ordered both to remain behind bars and set a new hearing
00:37date of March 17. Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the courthouse on Monday to denounce the
00:45Trump administration's actions in Venezuela. Many chanted,
00:49no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere. A public 25-page indictment
00:57accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to ship thousands of tons of cocaine into
01:03the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted. The indictment alleges Venezuelan
01:10officials worked with the Trendyaragua gang, but a U.S. intelligence assessment published in April
01:16found no coordination with the Caracas regime. The arrest's legality has sparked a serious
01:24backlash and diplomatic crisis around the world.
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