„I am Cilia Flores,“ she said. „I am first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.“

Hellerstein interjected, saying, „The purpose today is just to ask you who you are.“ The judge then explained her rights to remain silent and to be represented by an attorney.

„Yes I understand and I‘ve heard it,“ Flores said.

Asked how she pleaded to the three counts of the indictment she faces. Flores responded, „Not guilty — completely innocent.“

Maduro and Flores are among six defendants named in a four-count superseding indictment that accused them of conspiring with violent, dangerous drug traffickers for the last 25 years. Maduro has long denied all the allegations.