Maduro and Flores plead not guilty to US torture conspiracy charges
publishers 101articles 127first reported 7 Oct, 20:05 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 15 editions
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court on Thursday to new charges accusing them of conspiring to torture political opponents and other detainees, including three U.S. citizens.
A revised indictment alleges that the couple oversaw a state system of arbitrary detention and abuse intended to suppress opposition and protect their power and alleged narcotics operations. Prosecutors say victims were beaten, asphyxiated, waterboarded and subjected to electric shocks. Maduro and Flores are not accused of personally carrying out the torture, but the indictment alleges they selected targets, received updates and directed or suggested methods of abuse.
Maduro rejected the allegations as false during the hearing, while Flores told the court she was “completely innocent.” Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein entered not-guilty pleas on their behalf.
The couple previously pleaded not guilty to charges including cocaine-importation and weapons conspiracies. Maduro also faces a narco-terrorism conspiracy charge, which has now been added against Flores. Their lawyers have sought dismissal on immunity grounds, arguing that they were the president and first lady of a sovereign country.
U.S. forces captured Maduro and Flores at their Caracas residence in January and brought them to New York, where they remain jailed in Brooklyn. The trial was postponed by two weeks and is now scheduled to begin June 14, 2027.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 186 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 101
- Source articles
- 127
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 186 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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