( CNN ) -- Former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo appeared in a New York court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to charges that he laundered $ 70 million through U.S. banks while in power . Portillo , who was extradited to the United States last week , has always denied the charges against him and says the accusations are based on the lies of political enemies . `` This is a case of clear overreaching by the Department of Justice and the United States government against former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo , who is innocent of all the charges against him , '' defense attorney David M. Rosenfield told reporters on Tuesday . `` Former President Portillo was tried on many of these same charges in a politically motivated criminal case in Guatemala in early 2011 , and was acquitted on all charges . The acquittal was upheld on appeal , '' he said . `` Former President Portillo intends to vigorously defend himself against the current charges against him and fully expects to be acquitted here just as he was acquitted in Guatemala . '' U.S. prosecutors have said Portillo , who led the Central American country from 2000 to 2004 , used his authority to launder and misappropriate millions of dollars . `` Portillo is charged with converting the office of the Guatemalan presidency into his personal ATM , '' Preet Bharara , U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York , said in a 2010 statement . `` Through various alleged embezzlement schemes , including one which involved $ 1.5 million intended for Guatemalan school children , Portillo abused the trust of his nation 's people . '' An indictment unsealed in New York federal court accuses Portillo of embezzling tens of millions of dollars worth of public funds , `` a substantial portion of which he laundered through American and European bank accounts . '' After the United States made an extradition request , Guatemalan authorities arrested him on a farm on the country 's coast in 2010 . Guatemalan courts and the country 's president authorized his extradition to the United States in 2011 , but the transfer did not happen until Friday . In court Tuesday , Portillo wore a gray suit and a maroon tie . He had a pair of headphones for translation . His attorneys have asked for a bail hearing within two weeks . Portillo has said that he never laundered money in U.S. banks . `` In the United States , it is a revenge of the richest group of the American right , '' he said in an interview with CNN en EspaÃ±ol in January . `` They are charging me for being the only president who did not support , with his signature nor with his permission , the invasion in Iraq . '' `` If deposits were made , '' he said , `` they are deposits that first of all come from institutions that are not illicit . In order for there to be laundering , the first requirement is that the money is from an illegal origin or comes from an illegal activity . '' Portillo responded directly to the charge concerning the $ 1.5 million that the United States says was intended for schoolchildren . That money , Portillo said , was something he had requested and received before he became president . From the beginning , that money was raised to create a trust fund to support his daughter 's studies , and that 's what it was used for , Portillo said . Despite his claims that his rights have been violated during the extradition process , Portillo said he believes he will get a fair trial in the United States . `` I have confidence that at least I will have a transparent , impartial , objective trial that is based on reliable evidence and not just testimonies that are based on falsehoods , '' he said . A fair trial would not be possible in Guatemala , he added . Twist in Guatemalan case : Genocide conviction overturned . Guatemala confronts a dark chapter . Journalist Miguel Salay and CNN 's Catherine E. Shoichet , Maria Santana and Dana Ford contributed to this report .
NEW : `` This is a case of clear overreaching , '' a defense attorney says . Former president Alfonso Portillo says his enemies orchestrated the charges against him . Prosecutors say he used his authority to launder and misappropriate millions of dollars . Portillo led Guatemala from 2000 to 2004 .