US Adds Torture-Conspiracy Charge Against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores
publishers 62articles 75first reported 7 Oct, 20:05 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 15 editionstop 25 #2
U.S. federal prosecutors on Thursday added a conspiracy to commit torture charge against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, expanding an existing criminal case in Manhattan.
The superseding indictment alleges that Maduro and Flores oversaw a system involving Venezuela’s military, intelligence agencies and security forces that used arbitrary detention, violence and torture to suppress political opponents and maintain power. Prosecutors say the conspiracy operated from at least 1999 through 2025 and targeted Venezuelan dissidents as well as U.S. citizens.
The alleged methods included electric shocks, beatings, asphyxiation, simulated drowning, sexual assault, forced nudity, starvation, isolation and threats against detainees’ families. Prosecutors allege Maduro authorized torture, received updates about interrogations and instructed officials to intensify abuse. Flores allegedly ordered torture and attended meetings where detainees’ treatment was discussed.
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said Maduro denies the new allegations and looks forward to appearing in court. Maduro and Flores previously pleaded not guilty to charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and firearms offenses.
The couple have been held at a federal detention center in Brooklyn since U.S. forces captured them during a January 3 operation in Caracas and brought them to New York. Their trial is scheduled for June 1, 2027. Flores was also expected to seek release to house arrest on health grounds; prosecutors oppose the request, citing flight risk and danger to the public.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 6 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 18 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 62
- Source articles
- 75
- Given to the writer
- 8, 6 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 18 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →