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Nicolas Maduro confronted by protester as he left court in the US

The ousted president listened to an interpreter intently on headphones and scribbled notes throughout the 30-minute hearing
The ousted president listened to an interpreter intently on headphones and scribbled notes throughout the 30-minute hearing (Reuters)
  • Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was confronted by a protester as he left his first appearance in a US courtroom Monday.
  • As Maduro got out of his chair to leave, a man in the audience stood up and began speaking forcefully at him in Spanish, blasting him as an “illegitimate” president.
  • The man later said that he had been imprisoned by the Venezuelan regime.
  • As deputy U.S. Marshals led Maduro from the courtroom, he looked directly at the man and shot back in Spanish, “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”
  • Maduro, who also wished reporters “Happy New Year” in court, and his wife pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges in Manhattan federal court.
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