Humiliation is at the heart of this and it showed.
Nicolas Maduro was handcuffed and, at times, head bowed on his journey to court. Every second spoke to a president in circumstances reduced.
He and his wife wore beige prison garb, bracing against the biting New York cold as they flitted between vehicle and helicopter for the short flight across the East River towards Lower Manhattan.
Maduro to face US justice: Live updates
It’s a trip tourists pay good money for, in sight of the Statue of Liberty – ironically. For the Maduros, Mr and Mrs, this trip was strictly business.
Roads were closed for the vehicle transport end of the trip and military officers rode the convoy, weapons ready.
The transfer from prison to court was textbook, like the transfer from Venezuela to the US. The practicalities have played out seamlessly, even if the politics are a lot more complicated.
Court offers no presidential privilege to Maduro. A man used to his pick of legal representation has been coupled with a public defender for his initial appearance, at least.
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Quite the shout for a jobbing lawyer turning up for the Monday morning case-load.
Not least among the questions for Maduro will be how he affords, and pays for, top legal representation when he is sanctioned by the United States and has his assets frozen.
The arraignment hearing is typically an opportunity for an accused to be read the charges against them and be given the opportunity to enter a plea. It will be the first opportunity to hear the view of Maduro himself on his predicament.
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The judge who’ll preside is Alvin K Hellerstein, a Bill Clinton appointee.
At the age of 92, he’s no stranger to high-profile cases. The case thrown his way by Donald Trump trumps them all.
