Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared in a United States courtroom on Monday for the first time since he was captured and brought to the U.S. to face charges. In the courtroom, he pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him and told the judge that he still considers himself the legitimate president of Venezuela.

Maduro stood before the judge wearing prison clothes with his feet shackled. He spoke in Spanish and used an interpreter to translate his words into English for the court. When he was asked to say how he pleaded, Maduro said, “I am innocent, I am not guilty.” He then added, “I am a decent man.” Before the judge could let him continue, he also said, “I am still president of my country.” The judge stopped him from speaking further at that moment.

After that, the judge told the court, “A plea of not guilty will be entered on behalf of Mr. Maduro.” This meant that Maduro’s answer to all the charges is officially recorded as not guilty.

Maduro’s defence lawyer, Barry Pollack, later confirmed in the courtroom that his client was pleading not guilty to all four charges he faces. The charges include serious allegations related to drug trafficking and other crimes that U.S. authorities have brought against him.

During the hearing, Maduro told the judge and the court that he had not yet seen the official list of charges against him and did not know what his rights were under U.S. law. Through his interpreter, he said, “I did not know of these rights. Your honour is informing me of them now.”

Earlier in the hearing, a court-appointed translator told the judge what Maduro had said about how he was taken into custody. According to the translator, Maduro said he was “captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela.” This remark came from what was interpreted from his Spanish statement in the courtroom.

Maduro entered the courtroom shortly after 12 pm local time. He wore prison attire and had headphones for translation so he could understand English during the hearing. His feet were still shackled, but his hands were not. When he walked in, he briefly shook hands with his attorney before the proceedings began.

Cilia Flores, Maduro’s wife, was also in court with him. She wore similar prison clothes. After the judge finished with Maduro’s plea, he asked her to confirm who she was. Speaking in Spanish through an interpreter, she said, “I am the first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.” When the judge asked her how she pleaded to the charges, she said, “Not guilty. Completely innocent.”

At the end of the hearing, Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, told the judge that his client is the head of a sovereign state and should have the privileges that come with that status. Pollack also raised questions about whether Maduro’s capture by the U.S. was legal, saying the defence would make “voluminous” pretrial filings to challenge the case on legal grounds.

The court hearing ended at 12:31 pm local time. Before leaving, the lawyer for Cilia Flores, Mark Donnelly, told the court that his client is having health and medical issues that may need attention. He said that Flores might have a fractured rib or serious bruising and could require a full X-ray.

Both Maduro and Flores agreed to stay in custody for now. Their lawyers said they may ask for bail or other legal actions later. The judge said the next court session will be held on March 17.