Maduro pleads not guilty to new torture-related charges in New York
Summary
Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's former leader, and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York court to plead not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture. They were captured by US forces in January and face additional accusations, including drug trafficking and narcoterrorism, with a trial set for June 2027.Key Facts
- Maduro and Flores were arrested in January during a US military raid and taken to New York.
- They denied torture charges and other accusations, claiming sovereign immunity as leaders of Venezuela.
- The new indictment accuses them of running a violent repression system causing deaths, harassment, and torture of thousands of Venezuelans.
- Reported torture methods include electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, isolation, starvation, and psychological abuse.
- US prosecutors claim Maduro authorized torture of specific individuals, including some US citizens.
- Maduro and Flores previously faced charges related to cocaine trafficking and working with terrorist-labelled drug cartels.
- Flores requested release on bond citing health problems but was denied.
- Their trial is scheduled for June 2027 in federal court in New York.
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