Nicolas Maduro and Wife Cilia Flores Plead Not Guilty to US Torture Charges

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared before a New York federal court, declaring that they do not accept the charges of torture and conspiracy against political opponents brought by the United States.

They Pleaded Not Guilty in Court

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores stated that they were innocent of the new charges against them during a hearing at a New York federal court.

The Hearing and Details Inside the Courtroom

Appearing before Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court, the defendants were present in the courtroom wearing beige prison uniforms and shackles on their feet.

Details of the Indictment and New Charges

A superseding indictment filed last week expanded the existing legal proceedings against 63-year-old Maduro and 70-year-old Flores, adding allegations of a conspiracy to commit torture to the case file.

January Military Operation

Maduro and Flores were captured at their home and flown to New York as a result of a military raid conducted in January under the orders of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Potential Prison Sentence and Trial Date

Judge Alvin Hellerstein postponed the trial start date by two weeks due to the newly added charges, setting it for June 14, 2027, and stated that they would face a minimum of 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges.