Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been indicted in a US federal court over alleged conspiracy to commit torture of US citizens, adding to an existing drug trafficking case.
Key facts
- Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores have been charged over alleged conspiracy to commit torture.
- The new charge adds to an existing US drug trafficking case against the couple.
- A superseding indictment was unsealed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, according to the Guardian.
- Both have been held in a New York City jail since early January.
- A judge denied Flores's request for pre-trial release.
US prosecutors have brought a new charge against Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, over allegations of torture, according to Al Jazeera and the Guardian. The charge relates to an alleged conspiracy to commit torture of US citizens.
According to the Guardian, the deposed president and Flores were indicted on the torture conspiracy charge in Manhattan federal court papers that were unsealed on Thursday. The document was a superseding indictment, which adds to charges the couple already face.
Al Jazeera reports that the new US charge adds to an existing drug trafficking case against the former president and first lady. The couple therefore face mounting legal exposure in the United States.
The Guardian reports that Maduro and Flores have been held in a New York City jail since early January. The timing of their detention places them in US custody as the latest charge was filed.
The superseding indictment was unsealed shortly before Flores appeared in court as part of her ongoing push for pre-trial release, according to the Guardian. That request was denied by Judge Alvin Hellerstein.
The sources do not provide further detail on the specific allegations underlying the torture charge, the identities of the alleged victims, or any response from Maduro or Flores to the new indictment.
Why it matters
The prosecution of a former head of state and first lady in a US court marks a significant escalation in Washington's legal pressure on figures tied to Venezuela's government. The addition of a torture conspiracy charge to an existing drug trafficking case signals the scope of the US case against the couple.
Frequently asked questions
What new charge do Maduro and Flores face?
According to the Guardian, they were indicted for alleged conspiracy to commit torture of US citizens, in a superseding indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court.
Where are Maduro and Flores being held?
The Guardian reports the couple have been held in a New York City jail since early January.
Was Cilia Flores granted release before trial?
No. The Guardian reports that her request for pre-trial release was denied by Judge Alvin Hellerstein.