US prosecutors filed new charges against ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, alleging conspiracy to commit torture against detainees, including US citizens.
The United States on Thursday filed new criminal charges against ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, accusing them of conspiracy to commit torture. The new indictment adds to existing drug trafficking and firearms charges against the pair, who remain in US custody following a military raid in January.
According to the new court filing, prosecutors allege that Maduro and Flores headed a state-sponsored system of repression. The indictment details alleged acts of torture against victims, including US citizens, in Venezuelan detention. Specific allegations include waterboarding, rape, beatings, electric shocks, asphyxiation, and forced injections.
"That torture included electric shock to arms, legs, and genitals; asphyxiation; beatings; deprivation of food and water; and forced injections of a substance that caused (the victim) to experience seizures," the filing states regarding a 2022 instance involving an American accused of plotting to assassinate Maduro.
The indictment claims that Maduro suggested torture methods, sought updates on victims' treatment, and personally threatened the killing of one prisoner's child. Prosecutors allege that Flores, a former attorney general, helped develop the repressive system and ordered the torture of specific individuals.
Maduro and Flores are slated for trial in New York next June and are currently held in a Brooklyn jail. Both have pleaded not guilty to the original charges, which include narco-terrorism conspiracy and cocaine importation conspiracy. Their attorneys have argued that the charges should be dismissed on the grounds that they have immunity as the leader and first lady of a sovereign country.
Maduro has described himself as a "prisoner of war" and stated that the US military kidnapped him. His lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in a statement that Maduro "denies the charges in the new indictment and looks forward to his day in court."
On Thursday, US District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied a request by Flores to be moved from jail to private home detention. Flores' lawyers cited medical concerns, stating she has lost 25 pounds and might need heart surgery. Judge Hellerstein sided with prosecutors, who described Flores as an "extreme" flight risk.
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on X that the additional charges reflect "the dedication of this Administration to delivering justice for the victims of torture, narcoterrorism, and organized crime." FBI Director Kash Patel said the charges demonstrate Washington's commitment to "accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of US national security."
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald described the alleged conduct as "truly unthinkable" and "the epitome of corruption."
Since Maduro's capture, vice president Delcy Rodriguez has governed Venezuela as interim leader. The US government has pressured the interim administration, and US energy firms have recently signed deals with Venezuela, which has agreed to grant the United States control of a significant portion of its oil reserves.
The addition of torture charges marks a significant expansion of the legal case against the former Venezuelan leadership, moving beyond drug trafficking allegations to include grave human rights violations. The prosecution relies partly on testimony from Gen. Hugo Carvajal, a former Venezuelan spy chief who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and is cooperating with US prosecutors. The case highlights the US government's strategy of using criminal indictments to address alleged abuses by foreign leaders, a move that has drawn scrutiny from human rights experts regarding the selectivity of such prosecutions.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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