Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have formally pleaded not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture in a federal court in New York. The couple made their appearance on Thursday, steadfastly denying allegations that they established and maintained a "violent system of repression" within Venezuela.
These new charges, introduced by US government prosecutors last week, represent an expansion of earlier accusations against Mr Maduro, which included narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and various weapons-related offences. Furthermore, prosecutors had previously accused Mr Maduro, Ms Flores, their son, and other alleged accomplices of engaging in a wide-ranging cocaine-trafficking conspiracy and forging partnerships with cartels officially designated as terrorist groups.
The capture of Mr Maduro and Ms Flores took place in January during a US military operation. Following their apprehension, they were transported to New York, where they have since remained in jail. Both individuals have consistently entered pleas of not guilty to all charges levelled against them and are actively pursuing the dismissal of their case, asserting claims of sovereign immunity. The full trial is currently slated to commence in June 2027.
During the court proceedings on Thursday, Mr Maduro explicitly denied the most recent charges brought against him. Speaking through a translator, he stated his rejection of what he termed "false accusations and false testimony against me," adding, "I reject this document entirely." Judge Alvin Hellerstein subsequently intervened to officially record a plea of not guilty on Mr Maduro's behalf. Ms Flores likewise maintained her innocence, declaring, also via a translator, "I am completely innocent. I am not guilty."
Both Mr Maduro and Ms Flores were present in court wearing standard beige jail uniforms. Observers noted that both appeared to have experienced weight loss during their period of detention in Brooklyn.
The detailed indictment outlines an array of alleged torture methods employed under the described system. These include, but are not limited to, "electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, prolonged isolation, starvation, punishment cells, and psychological torture." The US government's case also posits that Mr Maduro personally authorised the use of torture "against specific individuals," and crucially alleges that US citizens were among those who suffered torture under this systematic repression.
The couple's legal defence has centred on the argument that Mr Maduro, by virtue of his position as the leader of a sovereign nation, is entitled to immunity from prosecution. Their legal team contends that the manner in which the US apprehended him by force was illegal. Separately, Ms Flores had previously sought to be released on bond while awaiting trial, citing various health concerns, including heart problems, during her incarceration at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. However, this petition was unsuccessful.
In past statements regarding the initial charges, Mr Maduro has characterised such accusations as merely a tool designed to further "imperial" agendas aimed at securing access to Venezuela's substantial oil reserves.
