The first hearing of the "Trial of the Century": Maduro "I am not guilty, I am an upright man", the judge is "92 years old", "there is a precedent 36 years ago"

# Source: Wall Street Insights  By Long Yue

Nicolás Maduro made his first court appearance at a federal court in New York, where he pleaded "not guilty" to charges of "narco-terrorism" and claimed he had been "kidnapped". The case is being presided over by 92-year-old Judge Hellerstein, known for his independence and toughness. While the defense has emphasized Maduro's status as a "head of state of a sovereign nation", legal analysts point out that the 1989 precedent involving former Panamanian President Noriega has established a legal framework: head-of-state immunity does not apply to private crimes such as drug trafficking.

According to the latest report from CCTV News, on January 5 local time, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were forcibly detained by the United States, appeared in court for the first time at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. During the hearing, Maduro rejected all charges brought by the US side and stated, "I am innocent."

Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, Maduro spoke emotionally in court, saying he had been in a state of "kidnapping" since January 3. He said: "I am innocent, I am an upright man, and I am the president of the country."

Maduro's wife also pleaded not guilty to the US charges. Her defense attorney told the court that Flores was injured during the US military raid and required medical treatment.

This marked the couple's first public appearance since they were forcibly detained by the US and transferred to the country. The judge has scheduled another hearing for March 17. Currently, Maduro faces US charges of "conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to smuggle cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States". Prosecutors allege that Maduro led a drug-trafficking organization that shipped thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States and amassed wealth through corruption.

*Image: Screenshot from CCTV News video*

## Courtroom Scene: Fierce Arguments and Charges

According to CCTV News, at around 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the 5th, Maduro and his wife were escorted out of a detention center in Brooklyn, New York, by heavily armed guards, then transported via helicopter and other means to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Court announcements show that the hearing was presided over by Judge Alvin Hellerstein.

*Image: Screenshot from CCTV News video*

The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense and dramatic. Reports indicate that when Maduro attempted to voice his protest in court over his "kidnapping" and the legality of the US operation, presiding Judge Hellerstein interrupted him, emphasizing that the current proceeding was solely for identity confirmation, and legal defense would be presented by attorneys in subsequent sessions.

Maduro's defense attorney Barry Pollack immediately pointed out that his client, as a head of state of a sovereign nation, enjoys corresponding immunity, and questioned the legality of the "military abduction". Meanwhile, outside the court, protesters gathered to demand Maduro's release and protest US military intervention in Venezuela, with waves of chants echoing through the area.

*Image: Screenshot from CCTV News video*

During the hearing, the Maduro couple firmly maintained their innocence. Although the two did not apply for bail at the initial hearing, they reserved the right to do so at a later date.

The judge ordered Maduro to appear in court again for a hearing on March 17. Subsequently, the motorcade carrying Maduro and his wife left the courthouse.

Looking ahead, the focus is on the pace of the trial. While the next hearing is set for March, a full trial may still be some time away. Maduro's legal team has made it clear that they will submit a large number of documents challenging the legality of the US operation, indicating that this legal battle will be protracted.

## The 92-Year-Old Judge: "Maverick", "Tough", and Unfazed by Public Opinion

The 92-year-old presiding judge, Alvin Hellerstein, has become another focal point of market attention. According to Politico, the veteran judge appointed by Bill Clinton is known for being a "maverick" and "tough".

Legal insiders revealed that Judge Hellerstein does not care about public opinion, has his own trial rhythm, tends to push cases forward quickly, and will even directly interrupt statements he deems lengthy—just as he did to Maduro during the initial hearing.

Notably, Hellerstein does not always side with the government. He once presided over the compensation case for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and in previous litigation related to Trump's "hush money" case, he twice rejected Trump's request to transfer the case to federal court. In addition, he has blocked the Trump administration from deporting immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act.

Analysts point out that Judge Hellerstein's style means the trial of this case will be subject to strict procedural controls, and any attempt to use the court for political grandstanding may be quickly stopped by him, which will keep the case more focused on debates over legal facts themselves.

## A 36-Year-Old Precedent: Legal Battle Over Sovereign Immunity

Although Maduro's team has emphasized "head-of-state immunity", media analysis notes that the 36-year-old case of Manuel Noriega of Panama provides a clear legal reference for this case.

In 1989, the United States launched a military operation against Panama and brought back the country's de facto leader Noriega, also charging him with drug trafficking. At that time, Noriega's defense team also raised defenses of "head-of-state immunity" and "illegal arrest". However, US courts ultimately ruled that immunity is intended to protect official diplomatic functions, not to cover up private drug-trafficking crimes. In addition, the court cited the principle from the 1886 case *Ker v. Illinois*, which states that the manner in which a defendant is brought before the court does not affect the court's jurisdiction to try him.

Legal expert Nicholas Creel pointed out that the legal framework for the Maduro case was established 36 years ago. Unless the court overturns clear precedents, defenses regarding sovereign immunity and the legality of the arrest are unlikely to succeed. This legal reality means that despite intense diplomatic disputes, within the US judicial system, the legal obstacles to the case's progress may be smaller than the market expects.

## Geopolitical Game and Market Attention

Outside the courtroom, the geopolitical game is even more intense. According to CCTV News, the Venezuelan side has characterized the US operation as "military aggression" and "occupation", and pointed out that there are resource and geopolitical motives behind the US action.

For the global energy market and emerging market investors, the core risk lies in the power vacuum and potential social unrest in Venezuela. Venezuela's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samuel Moncada specifically emphasized at the Security Council that "constitutional order has been maintained", aiming to assure the international community that the country has not fallen into a state of anarchy.

However, as legal proceedings advance, the further deterioration of US-Venezuela relations and the evolution of the domestic situation in the country will remain key variables affecting asset prices in Latin America for some time to come.

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