Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have denied fresh US charges accusing them of conspiring to torture political opponents, adding another serious dimension to the criminal proceedings against the former Venezuelan leadership.
The couple entered not-guilty pleas on Thursday before a federal court in Manhattan, where prosecutors have expanded an existing case against them. The latest indictment builds on earlier allegations that Maduro and Flores abused their positions to facilitate cocaine trafficking.
Maduro, 63, and Flores, 70, appeared before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein wearing tan prison clothing and ankle restraints. When asked about the new allegations, Maduro rejected the indictment in its entirety, maintaining that the accusations were false. The judge subsequently entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
Flores also firmly denied the charges, declaring that she was innocent.
Neither Maduro nor Flores is accused of personally carrying out acts of torture. However, prosecutors allege that both were involved in a broader effort to use violence and coercion against perceived opponents to preserve their hold on power. If convicted on all charges, each could face a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 50 years.
Prosecutors Allege Campaign Against Political Opponents
The expanded indictment outlines allegations that Maduro directed Venezuelan officials to extract information from opposition politicians and military personnel suspected of plotting against his government.
One incident cited by prosecutors dates to 2014. According to the indictment, Maduro instructed officials to detain military personnel to obtain information about potential dissidents. When some detainees allegedly refused to cooperate, he directed officials to intensify the pressure, using the phrase “squeeze them harder.”
Flores allegedly supported the approach during the meeting and rejected an alternative proposal to gather intelligence by infiltrating suspected dissident groups.
These claims form part of the prosecution’s broader argument that the alleged abuse of political opponents was connected to efforts to maintain control over Venezuela. The accusations remain allegations, and the couple has pleaded not guilty.
Following the introduction of the new charges, Judge Hellerstein postponed the trial’s scheduled start by two weeks, moving it to June 14, 2027.
US-Venezuela Tensions Reach a Dramatic Turning Point
Maduro’s legal troubles have unfolded against the backdrop of years of confrontation between Caracas and Washington. During his 13 years in power, successive US administrations imposed sanctions on senior Venezuelan officials and major state-linked companies, citing alleged human rights abuses, corruption and electoral manipulation.
Maduro repeatedly accused Washington of pursuing regime change to gain greater influence over Venezuela’s substantial natural resources.
That confrontation reached a decisive moment on January 3, when US forces captured Maduro and Flores during a military operation at their home in Caracas. The couple was subsequently taken to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges announced on the same day. They have since been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The torture-related allegations now widen the scope of the case beyond the original accusations involving narcotics.
New Leadership in Caracas
Since Maduro’s capture, former vice president Delcy Rodriguez has taken over the leadership of Venezuela and increased cooperation with Washington.
US President Donald Trump has presented the operation and the subsequent improvement in relations with Caracas as significant foreign policy achievements. The developments come as Republicans prepare to defend their congressional majority in the November 3 midterm elections.
For Maduro and Flores, the new indictment means that the legal battle in New York will extend beyond the drug-trafficking allegations that initially brought them before the US court. Their latest pleas set the stage for further proceedings in a case carrying potentially severe consequences for the former Venezuelan leader and his wife.
