Nicolas Maduro and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Torture Charges in New York

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture in a New York federal court on Thursday.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein formally presented the charges, which the US Department of Justice unsealed on October 8. The indictment alleges Maduro and Flores “created and maintained a violent system of repression” against political opponents and dissidents, with alleged acts of torture stretching back to 2013. Specific torture methods cited include electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, prolonged isolation, starvation, punishment cells, and psychological torture, such as threats to harm and kill victims’ families.

The US also accuses Maduro of authorizing torture against specific individuals and alleges at least three American citizens were tortured under this system. Maduro denied the charges, calling them “false accusations and false testimony against me” and stating, “I reject this document entirely.” Judge Hellerstein interrupted Maduro and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

They are also on trial for separate drug trafficking charges, with their trial scheduled for June 2027. Their attorneys argue they qualify for sovereign immunity and seek to have the case dismissed.