The United States filed new charges of conspiracy to commit torture on Thursday against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, strengthening a criminal case already underway against the pair who are currently in US custody.
Maduro and Flores were previously charged with drug trafficking and firearms offenses following a US military raid on their Caracas residence in January. The latest court filing accuses them of orchestrating torture against victims detained in Venezuela, with prosecutors detailing incidents that included waterboarding, rape, and beatings aimed at intimidating and neutralizing political opponents.
Among the alleged victims is an American who Venezuelan authorities claimed plotted to assassinate Maduro. According to the filing, this individual was subjected to electric shocks, asphyxiation, beatings, food and water deprivation, and forced injections of a substance that induced seizures during a 2022 incident.
Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted the new charges as evidence of the administration’s commitment to prosecuting victims of torture, narcoterrorism, and organized crime. FBI Director Kash Patel similarly stated the filings demonstrate Washington’s dedication to the rule of law and national security protection.
Maduro, whose presidency from 2013 to 2026 saw widespread accusations of political repression by rights groups, has denied the original charges, describing himself as a prisoner of war and asserting that the US military abducted him. He faces allegations of using state power to facilitate cocaine smuggling into the United States in alliance with cartels.
Flores has also pleaded not guilty to charges including cocaine importation conspiracy and possession of destructive devices. A court filing revealed she faces additional narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. On Thursday, a US judge denied her request to transfer from jail to home detention to treat a heart condition.
Both individuals have appealed for dismissal of the charges, claiming immunity based on their former roles as president and first lady. Their trial is scheduled to begin in New York next June.
Since Maduro’s capture, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has served as interim leader under significant pressure from the Trump administration. Meanwhile, US energy companies have recently signed multi-billion-dollar agreements with Venezuela, granting the United States control over substantial portions of the country’s oil reserves.
Torture charges are serious, but I wonder if these will hold up in court given the political context.
Interesting how US energy companies are signing oil deals right now. Seems like politics and profit are intertwined here.
Wait, does this mean they’re extradited already? I thought Maduro was still in Venezuela. Please clarify.
Finally, accountability for these crimes. The US must ensure a fair trial and justice for the victims.