In brief
Nicolaus Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York courthouse on Thursday, pleading not guilty to new charges that allege a violent system of torture. The U.S. government added the charges last week after the couple was captured in a January raid and detained in Brooklyn. They argue sovereign immunity and have sued for release on bond, but the court has entered a not‑guilty plea and set the trial for June 2027. The indictment lists abuses such as electric shock, forced nudity and starvation. The case highlights ongoing questions about international law, human rights and the reach of U.S. courts.
Former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in a federal courthouse in New York on Thursday, pleading not guilty to fresh charges that allege a violent system of torture.
The U.S. government first accused Maduro of narco‑terrorism, drug trafficking and weapons‑related offences, but last week added a conspiracy‑to‑commit‑torture charge.
Maduro and Flores were seized in a U.S. military raid in January, then taken to Brooklyn where they have been held in a jail that has been under scrutiny for harsh conditions.
Both accused of conspiratorial cruelty, the pair argue they are sovereign officials and deserve immunity from U.S. prosecution. They also tried to secure bond for Flores on health grounds, but the request was denied.
The indictment claims Maduro built a “violent system of repression” that killed, raped and tortured thousands, including U.S. citizens. It names electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, prolonged isolation and starvation among the tactics used.
Prosecutors have already charged Maduro, Flores and their son for a cocaine‑trafficking conspiracy tied to terrorist‑designated cartels.
Maduro rejected the accusations in a full‑court statement, calling the documents “false” and insisting his actions were against imperialistic goals.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein declared the court would mark a not‑guilty plea, and the trial is set for June 2027. The case will test the limits of U.S. legal reach and international human rights norms.
