DEVELOPING: Between 1:45 a.m. and 2:15 a.m. UTC on January 4, 2026, new photographs emerged showing captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in handcuffs at a New York airport, according to posts by BNODesk on X. In response, Venezuela's Chavista Supreme Court of Justice reported Delcy Rodríguez assuming functions as president in charge, per OrlvndoA on X. An X post by RapidResponse47 during the same 29-minute window stated "Perp walked," referencing Maduro's transfer accompanied by U.S. law enforcement. Separately, Semafor's Ben Smith reported that The New York Times and The Washington Post held off on publishing details of the U.S. raid capturing Maduro. These images follow first photos of Maduro disembarking at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York earlier between 1:15 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. UTC, as previously reported, ahead of his presentation before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
