Captured and Charged: Former Venezuela President, Nicolás Maduro faces second US hearing

Venezuela’s former president, Nicolás Maduro, is set to appear in a New York court again on Thursday after being captured by US forces in a dramatic night operation.

Maduro, 63, and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held in a jail in Brooklyn for nearly three months. They were taken from their home in Caracas by US commandos in early January.

The operation removed Maduro from power. He had ruled Venezuela since 2013. Since then, the country has faced strong pressure from the United States, led by Donald Trump.

Maduro says he is a “prisoner of war” and has denied all charges against him. These include drug trafficking, bringing cocaine into the US, and illegal weapons charges.

In court, his lawyers are expected to ask that the case be dismissed. One major issue is who will pay his legal fees. Venezuela’s government wants to cover the costs, but US sanctions are making it difficult. His lawyer, Barry Pollack, says this situation is unfair and goes against Maduro’s right to proper legal defense.

Maduro is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Reports say he is kept alone in a cell with limited communication. He can only speak to his family and lawyers for 15 minutes per call. A source says he spends time reading the Bible.

Outside the court in New York, both supporters and critics gathered. Some protesters said they want justice for actions taken during Maduro’s time in power.

After his removal, Venezuela is now being led by Delcy Rodríguez, who was previously vice president. She is facing major challenges, including fixing the country’s struggling economy.

Rodríguez has introduced changes such as freeing political prisoners and adjusting oil and mining rules to meet US demands. The United States has also started to slowly rebuild diplomatic relations with Venezuela.

Maduro had earlier appeared in court in January, where he insisted he was still the president of Venezuela despite his arrest.