NEW YORK CITY—A Venezuelan dissident explained why he confronted his country’s former leader, Nicolás Maduro, inside a federal courtroom in the borough of Manhattan during the latter’s arraignment on Jan. 5.
Maduro shot back in Spanish, “I am a kidnapped president,” as he was escorted by deputy U.S. marshals.
Rojas, who said he was a political prisoner in Venezuela in 2019, later said, “What we want is for the full weight of the law to fall upon Maduro.”
“Maduro is being fed, he is requesting medical treatment, all things that political prisoners in Venezuela have never received,” he said as reporters gathered outside the courthouse after the hearing.
“There are people in Venezuelan jails facing 14, 18, 20 years in prison because of this bloodthirsty tyrant.”
The Venezuelan expressed regret for his outburst, apologizing to the United States and the U.S. justice system for shouting during the proceedings.
“All I said was that Maduro will now face justice for all his violations, and he said he was innocent and a man of God,” Rojas said.
“We too are men of God and have never beaten innocent people or persecuted cardinals of the Catholic Church or taken passports from political dissidents.”
As reporters followed Rojas, he said his English “is not the best” and that he would respond to questions in his preferred language, Spanish.
The Epoch Times was among the reporters who asked Rojas questions outside the courthouse in New York City.
Rojas described the dramatic moment in court when his eyes met Maduro’s. Rojas said he felt “no fear” when looking at Maduro, who spoke to Rojas in Spanish.
Rojas said he told Maduro that the former leader is guilty of the offenses listed by the judge and federal prosecutors.
Rojas told reporters that he was speaking to Maduro on behalf of 40 million Venezuelans who were happy to know that he is in custody.
When The Epoch Times asked what message Rojas would like to convey to President Donald Trump, he urged the U.S. president to remain vigilant while ensuring a smooth transition to new Venezuelan leadership.
Venezuelans will have freedom and will rebuild the country “hand in hand with President Trump,” Rojas said, noting that he hopes that Maduro’s “dark” regime will be forgotten and that people will only know about him by going to a museum or to a prison in which Maduro is held.
Maduro, who was apprehended by U.S. forces in a Jan. 3 operation in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.
He faces life in prison.
The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17.
