Maduro and wife charged with torturing Americans; judge denies Flores bail
Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, with conspiracy to commit torture, including abuse of U.S. citizens held in Venezuela. A New York judge denied Flores' request for bail over heart problems, saying the evidence is strong and she is a flight risk.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife now face a torture charge in New York federal court.
The Justice Department on Thursday unsealed a superseding indictment that adds conspiracy to commit torture to the narcoterrorism and cocaine charges already pending against the former Venezuelan leader and Cilia Flores. The indictment says their government used electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, isolation, starvation and threats against families to crush dissent, including against United States citizens.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the new counts show the administration's dedication to delivering justice for victims. Maduro and Flores were seized in Caracas in January and brought to the United States. FBI Director Kash Patel said more than a dozen Americans were among those abused. Maduro did not appear in court Thursday. His lawyer said he denies the new charges and wants his day in court.
Flores did appear. Her lawyers asked for bail or house arrest, citing a heart condition. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied the request, Fox News reported. The judge called the allegations serious and said the evidence is strong, CBS News reported. Prosecutors argued she has access to large sums of money and poses a flight risk and a danger to the public. She remains at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. Arraignment on the new count was delayed so her lawyers could review the indictment.
The couple has pleaded not guilty to the earlier drug and weapons charges. They have also argued they have immunity as a former head of state and first lady. Trial on the older counts is set for June 2027.
How this fits: U.S. prosecutors first charged Maduro and others in 2020 with flooding America with cocaine. The January raid put the couple in U.S. custody. Thursday's filing turns the case toward alleged human-rights crimes as well as drugs.
What we know: A superseding indictment adds a torture conspiracy count, and Flores was denied bail.
What we don't: When Maduro will be arraigned on the new charge, and how the immunity motions will be resolved.
Where outlets agree Fox News and CBS News both report that Maduro and Flores were charged Thursday with conspiracy to commit torture and that a judge denied Flores bail.
Where they differ CBS News says the couple already faced a narco-terrorism conspiracy charge, while POLITICO says the new indictment adds that count against Flores.