Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, are facing new charges in the United States for conspiring to torture their political opponents. These allegations expand the scope of the criminal case against them, which already included drug trafficking charges.
According to a Reuters report that reviewed court documents, U.S. prosecutors are seeking to bolster the case against Maduro by adding these serious charges. The accusations are based on a federal law that criminalizes torture committed outside the U.S., and Maduro is one of the few individuals to be charged under this statute.
Maduro, 63, and his wife, Flores, 70, pleaded not guilty last week to the new indictment. The central accusation is that they used torture as a tool to suppress dissent and maintain their hold on power.
The couple already faced severe "narco-terrorism" and drug trafficking charges in U.S. courts. In 2020, the United States offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest, accusing him of leading a drug cartel.
The trial for Maduro and his wife on these new charges is scheduled for June 2027. This case is one of the most high-profile legal actions against a former head of state in recent U.S. history.
The Venezuelan government has consistently denied these allegations, calling them part of a political campaign aimed at destabilizing the country and overthrowing its government. This legal case further complicates the already tense relationship between Washington and Caracas.
Source: Reuters
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