The United States has filed new torture charges against ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, adding to the mounting criminal case against the pair held in US custody. According to a new court filing, Maduro and Flores are charged with conspiracy to commit torture against victims, including US citizens, in Venezuelan detention. The alleged torture included waterboardings, rapes, and beatings, and was used to intimidate, harass, and neutralize opponents.
Maduro and Flores already face drug trafficking and firearms charges in the United States after they were snatched from their Caracas compound in an extraordinary US military raid in January. The new charges detail alleged human rights abuses committed during Maduro's presidency, including the torture of an American who was accused of plotting to assassinate Maduro in 2022. The torture included electric shock to arms, legs, and genitals; asphyxiation; beatings; deprivation of food and water; and forced injections of a substance that caused seizures.
During his 2013-2026 presidency, rights groups widely accused Maduro of using political repression to cling to power. The US Attorney General, Todd Blanche, said the additional charges reflect the administration's dedication to delivering justice for the victims of torture, narcoterrorism, and organized crime. FBI Director Kash Patel added that the latest charges show Washington's commitment to accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of US national security.
Maduro and Flores are slated for a trial in New York next June and are being held in a Brooklyn jail. US prosecutors claim that Maduro used state power to protect and promote illegal drug smuggling, and that he allied himself with cartels to ship tons of cocaine into the United States. Maduro has denied the charges he originally faced, describing himself as a "prisoner of war" and saying the US military kidnapped him.
Flores has similarly pleaded not guilty to cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. She has been additionally charged with "narco-terrorism" conspiracy. A US court recently denied a request by Flores to be moved from jail to private home detention in New York to help her address an apparent heart problem.
The pair have both appealed to have the charges against them dismissed, claiming they have immunity as president and first lady of a sovereign country. Since Maduro's capture, vice president Delcy Rodriguez has governed Venezuela as interim leader under intense pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration. US energy firms have this year signed a raft of multi-billion-dollar deals with Venezuela, which has agreed to grant the United States control of a huge chunk of its vast oil reserves.
The new charges against Maduro and Flores are part of a broader effort to hold the pair accountable for their actions. The US government has been working to bring Maduro to justice since he left office in 2026. The trial is expected to draw international attention and raise questions about the role of the US in Venezuela's politics.
Key points
- The US has filed new torture charges against ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
- Maduro and Flores are slated for a trial in New York next June.
- The pair have both appealed to have the charges against them dismissed, claiming they have immunity as president and first lady of a sovereign country.
