Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been charged by US authorities with conspiracy to commit torture, adding to earlier drugs and weapons charges against him.
Key facts
- US authorities have charged Nicolás Maduro with conspiracy to commit torture, according to NPR and Sky News.
- His wife, Cilia Flores, is named in the same new superseding indictment, Sky News reports.
- The charges relate to the torture of Venezuelan citizens and Americans, US media reports say.
- The torture charges add to existing drugs and weapons charges against Maduro.
- The BBC reported that further charges were expected this week ahead of the indictment.
US authorities have charged former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, with conspiracy to commit torture, according to reporting from NPR and Sky News. The accusations came in a new superseding indictment that expands the case already pending against the former leader.
According to NPR, US authorities charged Maduro with conspiring to torture his fellow citizens as well as Americans. The outlet reported that the torture charges add to existing drugs and weapons charges already filed against him.
Sky News reported that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been charged by US authorities with conspiracy to commit torture in the new superseding indictment. The naming of Flores alongside her husband marks a widening of those facing US legal action.
The BBC had earlier reported that Maduro was expected to face additional charges this week. According to the BBC, the new charges were anticipated to accuse Maduro and his wife of playing a role in the torture of Americans held in Venezuelan prisons, citing US media reports.
The latest filings build on a broader US effort to pursue legal action against the former Venezuelan president. The sources indicate the torture allegations encompass both Venezuelan nationals and American citizens, though the reports do not detail the specific individuals or incidents involved.
The reporting does not include a response from Maduro, Flores or the Venezuelan government to the new charges, nor does it specify the court handling the indictment or any scheduled proceedings.
Why it matters
The charges mark a significant escalation in US legal pressure on a former head of state and his family, extending beyond earlier drugs and weapons accusations to allegations of torture involving both Venezuelans and Americans. How the case proceeds could shape US-Venezuela relations and the broader question of holding former leaders accountable in US courts.
Frequently asked questions
What new charges do Maduro and his wife face?
According to Sky News and NPR, Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been charged by US authorities with conspiracy to commit torture in a new superseding indictment.
Who are the alleged victims in the torture charges?
US media reports cited by the BBC say the charges accuse Maduro and his wife of playing a role in the torture of Americans in Venezuelan prisons, while NPR reports the charges involve both Venezuelan citizens and Americans.
Are these the only charges against Maduro?
No. According to NPR, the torture charges add to existing drugs and weapons charges already filed against him.