Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s former president, faces allegations of human rights abuses. U.S. authorities charged him with torturing citizens to stay in power. A recent indictment, unsealed on Thursday, increases pressure on Maduro, who already battles drug trafficking charges.
The indictment claims Maduro supported using torture, detention, and violence to repress political opponents. His wife, Cilia Flores, is also accused of torture conspiracy. The charges detail electric shocks, beatings, and threats, including a chilling instance where Maduro allegedly threatened a prisoner’s child.
Messages seeking comments from Maduro’s lawyer are unanswered. Flores appeared in court but her attorney had not reviewed the new allegations. Both have been in New York detention since January, when forces seized them in Caracas during a night raid. They deny guilt in the U.S. drug case filed years ago, facing potential life sentences if convicted.
The International Criminal Court has investigated Maduro for crimes against humanity linked to his suppression of adversaries. He consistently denies wrongdoing.
Torture Victims Include U.S. Citizens
The indictment highlights the role of Venezuela’s DGCIM intelligence agency, formerly led by co-defendant Gen. Hugo Carvajal, who split from Maduro and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in New York. Carvajal may testify against Maduro.
The document mentions three unnamed American torture victims. One was subject to shocking mistreatment, forced to eat vomit, and endured electric shocks during eight months of imprisonment. Another required hospitalization after severe beatings and gun-filled threats. A third suffered permanent eye damage after continuous beatings.
Maduro has ignored U.S. lawsuits alleging mistreatment of Americans in Venezuela.
Flores Seeks Release for Medical Reasons
Flores’s lawyers requested her release from jail due to heart problems. They argue she requires medical attention not available in jail and asks for house arrest under 24/7 monitoring.
Flores, who lost 25 pounds in Brooklyn’s detention center, reportedly experiences dizziness and shortness of breath, potentially linked to a minor heart attack in July. The lawyers claim she suffered injuries during her capture.
Prosecutors oppose releasing Flores, citing flight risk and public danger. They note her access to local hospital treatments when necessary.
The Trump administration defended the raid on Maduro as a “surgical law enforcement operation.” Maduro has called his imprisonment a kidnapping, referring to himself as a prisoner of war. Flores is charged along with Maduro for cocaine importation conspiracy during his presidency from 2013 until his capture.
Her lawyers state Flores poses no threat of escape, focusing on supporting her husband during this ordeal.
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