U.S. prosecutors add torture conspiracy charge against Maduro and Flores
publishers 26articles 28first reported 8 Oct, 06:45 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 8 editions
U.S. prosecutors have charged former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, with conspiracy to commit torture, adding to an existing federal case involving allegations of drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
A superseding indictment unsealed Thursday in Manhattan alleges that Maduro, Flores and senior Venezuelan officials used violence, arbitrary detention and torture to suppress political opposition and remain in power. Prosecutors said the alleged victims included Venezuelans and U.S. citizens.
The indictment describes alleged methods including electric shocks, beatings, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, starvation, prolonged isolation and threats against victims’ relatives. Prosecutors allege Maduro approved torture methods, received updates about prisoners, watched a forced confession and threatened the killing of a detainee’s child. Flores is accused of helping develop the system, ordering the torture of specific people and receiving updates about their treatment.
Maduro and Flores previously pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollock, said his client denies the new accusations. Flores’ lawyer said he had not yet reviewed them. Their attorneys have argued that the case should be dismissed on sovereign-immunity grounds.
Both have been detained in Brooklyn since U.S. forces seized them in Caracas in January. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein on Thursday denied Flores’ request for release to house arrest. The BBC reported that their trial is scheduled to begin in June 2027.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 26
- Source articles
- 28
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 12 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.
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