US federal prosecutors have expanded criminal charges against former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, now accusing them of conspiring to torture political opponents and American citizens. The new indictment adds a serious chapter to an existing case that already charged the pair with drug trafficking offenses.
Prosecutors Add Torture Conspiracy Charge
The new superseding indictment was unsealed Thursday in federal court in Manhattan. According to prosecutors, Maduro is alleged to have authorized acts of torture while leading Venezuela, overseeing a system of arbitrary detention, violence, and repression against political opponents.
The indictment claims this repressive system was used to maintain political power. US authorities cite examples involving electric shocks, beatings, and suffocation. Among the alleged victims are at least three US citizens.
These are allegations by US prosecutors, not established guilt. Both Maduro and Flores reject the charges.
Indictment Describes Widespread Persecution in Venezuela
Prosecutors allege that repression in Venezuela was far more widespread than the individual cases described in the court filings.
According to the documents, from 1999 to 2025, thousands of Venezuelans were intimidated, arrested, prosecuted, assaulted, tortured, or killed by individuals acting on behalf of the state apparatus.
Some incidents detailed in the indictment relate to periods of political unrest or times when the government saw individuals as a threat to Maduro’s authority.
Indictment Cites Electric Shocks and Psychological Abuse
The US indictment describes several alleged forms of torture, including electric shocks, physical assaults, and simulated drowning.
Prosecutors further allege that Maduro personally approved some torture methods and, in one case, allegedly threatened to kill a prisoner’s child—a threat US authorities characterize as psychological torture.
These allegations will be considered by the court as part of the criminal proceedings.
Maduro and Flores Already Face Other Charges
The new charges expand a case that US prosecutors have been pursuing against the pair since the beginning of the year.
Maduro and Flores already face US charges related to cocaine smuggling and other crimes. Both have previously rejected those charges and have not yet entered pleas on the new allegations.
According to Reuters, if convicted on all counts, they could face a very lengthy prison sentence, including a mandatory minimum of 50 years.
Defense Rejects the Allegations
Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, stated that his client denies the new charges and intends to present his defense in court.
Cilia Flores’s legal team also rejected the prosecution’s claims and questioned the timing of the new indictment, saying they will address each assertion in detail during court proceedings.
The presumption of innocence remains in effect in this case.
Flores Requested Release from Custody
The court also considered Cilia Flores’s request to be released from detention to house arrest, with her legal team citing health concerns.
However, Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied the request. According to available information, both Maduro and Flores remain in federal custody in Brooklyn. The trial is scheduled for June 1, 2027.
Venezuela Saw Political Change After Maduro’s Detention
Maduro was detained by US forces in Caracas in early January 2026 and subsequently transferred to the United States. Since then, Venezuela has been governed by former vice president Delcy Rodríguez.
Relations between Washington and Caracas began to shift after this change. The new Venezuelan leadership increased cooperation with the US, although issues of political prisoners and human rights remain sensitive topics.
Previous incidents of political persecution in Venezuela have also come to light. The death of a political prisoner in Venezuelan custody sparked public outrage and prompted the government to launch an investigation.
Washington Adjusts Its Relationship With Venezuela’s New Government
The ongoing criminal case against Maduro coincides with a new stage in US-Venezuelan relations.
In September, Washington removed Venezuela from its list of countries deemed by the US to have failed in their anti-drug trafficking commitments. However, the US also noted Venezuela remains a major transit country for drug smuggling. The US has softened its stance on Venezuela, judging cooperation with the country’s new leadership differently than during Maduro’s era.
The current prosecution of Maduro continues amid this new phase in Washington-Caracas relations.
The US also announced in January the detention of the former Venezuelan president and his transfer to the US. The American operation in Venezuela attracted significant international attention and raised questions about the country’s future direction.
READ ALSO
US sent humanitarian aid to Venezuela. Washington aims to support stabilization in the country.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
