Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, detained in the United States along with his wife, Deputy Cilia Flores, assured that they are “well” and are “fighters,” according to his son, Chavist leader and parliamentarian Nicolás Maduro Guerra, who said he has spoken with the lawyers. In a note published this Sunday, the state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV) reported that Maduro's son met with members of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and “transmitted a message of strength” from his father and Flores, who were captured on January 3 in Caracas by U.S. forces amid a series of attacks. “The lawyers have told us that he is strong. He told us not to be sad,” Maduro Guerra said, as cited by VTV. The deputy denounced that a “disproportionate force” was used against Maduro, “as he could not be defeated by other means,” according to the state channel. However, VTV continued, he insisted that he remains “morally intact and strong” and that “his leadership has not been bent despite the circumstances he faces on U.S. territory.” The trial against Nicolás Maduro in the United States Last Monday, Maduro pleaded “not guilty” to the drug trafficking charges that the Donald Trump administration justifies his capture and transfer to the U.S. with, and said he is a “prisoner of war” before the Southern District of New York court during his first appearance. The formal accusation, made public on Saturday and reviewing the original one from 2020, accuses Maduro of conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, among other charges. Flores, in turn, is accused of allegedly participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Both pleaded “not guilty,” and Maduro reiterated that he is an “innocent man” while reaffirming that he is the president of Venezuela. That same Monday, Maduro's son denounced the “persecution” of his family and said he trusts that, “sooner rather than later,” both will be released and will be back in the South American country. Additionally, he expressed his “unconditional support” for Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the role of interim president by order of the Supreme Court.
