'Maduro Still Legitimate Head': Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has publicly defended Nicolas Maduro, insisting he remains the country's rightful leader despite being detained in the United States.

"I can tell you, President Nicolas Maduro is the legitimate president. I will tell you this as a lawyer, that I am. Both President Maduro and Cilia Flores, the first lady, are both innocent," Rodriguez told US-based news outlet NBC News.

Maduro is currently being held in a federal detention facility in New York after being captured by US forces last month.

At his first appearance in court, the deposed Venezuelan leader pleaded "not guilty" to all four charges against him. These include drug-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.

When asked for his plea, Maduro said, "I'm innocent. I'm not guilty. I am a decent man." He added, "I am still president of my country."

Asserting her own authority under Venezuela's constitution, she said, "I can tell you I am in charge of the presidency of Venezuela, as it's stated clearly in the constitution of Venezuela."

Immediately after Maduro's capture on January 3, Rodriguez strongly criticised the US military action. Since then, her position has softened. She confirmed that she has spoken twice with Donald Trump and hinted at a possible visit to the United States.

During the interview, Rodriguez also dismissed concerns over opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's safety.

"With regards to her life, we do not understand why there's such a fuss about it," she said. "With regards to her coming back to the country, she will have to answer to Venezuela. Why she called upon a military intervention, why she called upon sanctions against Venezuela, and why she celebrated the actions that took place at the beginning of January."

Machado recently gifted her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a White House visit.