Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty Monday to federal narco-terrorism charges in a Manhattan courtroom, telling the judge he was "captured" and remains the legitimate leader of his country two days after U.S. special forces seized him in a raid on the presidential palace in Caracas.

"I was captured," Maduro told U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein through an interpreter. "I am a decent man, the president of my country. I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here."

Maduro, 63, wore a blue prison uniform and listened to the English-language proceedings through headsets that provided Spanish translation. His wife and co-defendant, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The half-hour hearing marked the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy and legally complex criminal process that could take more than a year. Hellerstein scheduled the next court appearance for March 17.

"It's my job to assure this is a fair trial," Hellerstein, a Clinton appointee, told the defendants. "That's my job, and that's what I intend."

The charges and allegations

Maduro faces four criminal counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

The indictment alleges Maduro led a "corrupt illegitimate government" that abused its power to "transport thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States." Prosecutors say he used proceeds from the illegal drug activity to enrich himself, his family and Venezuela's political and military elite.

According to federal prosecutors, Maduro has been involved in drug trafficking from the time he began serving in Venezuela's National Assembly in 2000 through his tenure as foreign minister and subsequent 2013 election as the late President Hugo Chavez's successor.

The government alleges Maduro oversaw a cocaine-trafficking network that partnered with violent groups including Mexico's Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombian FARC rebels and Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang.

Maduro has long denied the allegations, characterizing them as a pretext for American designs on Venezuela's oil reserves. Federal prosecutors in New York first indicted Maduro in 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term. An updated indictment made public Saturday added new details and co-defendants, including Flores.

Both Maduro and his wife could face life in prison if convicted.

Courtroom exchange and legal representation

Throughout the proceeding, Maduro repeatedly emphasized his position as Venezuela's leader.

"I did not know of these rights," he said when Hellerstein informed him of his constitutional protections as a defendant. "Your honor is informing me of them now."

Flores likewise asserted her official status.

"I am first lady of the Republic of Venezuela," she said through an interpreter. Asked to enter a plea, she responded: "Not guilty. Completely innocent."

Maduro is being represented by Barry J. Pollack, a Washington-based attorney known for securing the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from prison and winning an acquittal for former Enron accountant Michael Krautz.

Pollack said he is not seeking bail for Maduro at this time but might do so in the future. He told the court there were questions about the legality of his client's "military abduction" and indicated he would file pretrial motions to address that issue.

Flores' attorney, Mark Donnelly, told the judge that his client had sustained injuries during the raid, including what may be a fracture or severe bruising on her ribs. Donnelly requested that she receive X-rays and a physical evaluation. Hellerstein said attorneys could work something out with prosecutors.

According to prosecutors, Maduro and his wife were taken into law enforcement custody at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Their plane landed in New York at 4:31 p.m. the same day. Both defendants will remain in custody at New York City's Metropolitan Detention Center until their next court appearance.

Confrontation in the courtroom

The hearing was briefly disrupted when a protester who had gained entry to the courtroom stood and began speaking forcefully in Spanish, calling Maduro an illegitimate leader as guards moved to escort him out.

Maduro looked directly at the man and responded in Spanish: "I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war."

NBC News reported that a man stood up and told Maduro he would "pay on behalf of Venezuela."

"In the name of God, I will be free," Maduro responded.

Outside the Manhattan courthouse, dozens of protesters gathered before and during the hearing, both pro- and anti-Maduro. Some held signs reading "USA hands off of Venezuela" and "US out of Latin America," while others celebrated the U.S. ouster of the longtime socialist leader.

Venezuela swears in interim president

While the courtroom drama unfolded in New York, Delcy Rodriguez, who had been serving as Venezuela's vice president, was sworn in as interim president in Caracas.

"I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland," Rodriguez said with her right hand raised. "I come with sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes."

Rodriguez later offered a significant shift in tone, expressing willingness to cooperate with the United States on the future of Venezuela.

"We consider it a priority to move towards a balanced and respectful relationship between the US and Venezuela," Rodriguez wrote on Telegram Sunday. "We extend an invitation to the US government to work together on a cooperation agenda, aimed at shared development, within the framework of international law."

Her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, was reappointed president of the overwhelmingly pro-Maduro National Assembly on Monday. He pledged "to use all procedures, forums and spaces" to bring Maduro back.

The Trump administration maintains that Maduro is an illegitimate leader who harmed Americans through illegal activity.

"There is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country," Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. "Maduro was not just an indicted drug trafficker. He was an illegitimate so-called president. He was not a head of state."

The U.S. has considered Maduro an illegitimate dictator since he declared victory in a 2018 election marred by allegations of massive irregularities.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is "deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected with regard to the 3 January military action."

Experts in international law have questioned the legality of the raid, with some condemning the actions as a repudiation of a rules-based international order. Maduro's defense team is expected to challenge the legality of his capture as part of pretrial litigation.