Maduro and wife plead not guilty to new torture charge
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a new torture charge in a New York court, Courthouse News and CBS New York reported. Prosecutors say the victims included three U.S. citizens. The judge moved the trial back two weeks, to June 14.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Manhattan federal court to a new charge of conspiracy to commit torture, Courthouse News, CBS New York and the BBC reported. The charge was added in a superseding indictment unsealed last week, Courthouse News reported.
Maduro wore beige prison clothes and was shackled at the ankles, Courthouse News reported. Asked for his plea, he began to object. "I reject this document in its entirety," he said, according to Courthouse News. He also denounced the "false accusations and false testimony against me," Courthouse News and the BBC reported. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein interrupted him and said a not guilty plea would be entered on his behalf, CBS New York and the BBC reported. "I am completely innocent. I am not guilty," Flores said, according to CBS New York and the BBC.
Prosecutors accuse the couple of directing the torture of at least nine victims, three of them U.S. citizens, Courthouse News reported. The methods alleged include electric shock, asphyxiation, starvation and beatings, CBS New York reported. The couple also faces narco-terrorism and weapons charges, CBS New York reported. They have argued the case should be thrown out because Maduro is the leader of a sovereign country and immune from prosecution, the BBC and CBS New York reported.
Hellerstein agreed to move the trial from June 1, 2027, to June 14 at the joint request of both sides, Courthouse News reported. Maduro's lawyer, Barry Pollack, called the short delay "aggressive" given the new charge, but said the parties could stick to it, Courthouse News reported. The next pretrial court date is in December, CBS New York reported.
Maduro and Flores were captured in a U.S. military operation in January and are held in Brooklyn, the BBC reported. Flores has been denied release on bail, Courthouse News and the BBC reported.
What we know: Maduro and Flores have pleaded not guilty to the torture charge, and their trial is now set for June 14, 2027.
What we don't: How the judge will rule on their claim of immunity, and whether the trial date will hold.
Where outlets agree Courthouse News, CBS New York and the BBC all report that Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty Thursday to a new conspiracy-to-torture charge.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.