US officials charged Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores with torture in a new indictment, adding to existing charges of drug trafficking. The indictment alleges they ordered physical and psychological abuse against political opponents and Americans, with details including electric shocks and asphyxiation.
The indictment, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges Maduro and Flores conspired from 1999 to 2025 to repress political opponents using torture and other abuses. It details incidents including a 2018 drone attack leading to torture of a detainee and a 2025 incident where an American citizen was beaten and suffered permanent eye injury.
Prosecutors say Maduro personally directed torture methods, including electric shocks and simulated drowning, while Flores was present at meetings discussing detainees. The charges add to an ongoing case against Maduro and Flores, with their trial scheduled for June 1, 2027. Flores' lawyers seek bail for health reasons, but prosecutors oppose release, citing flight risk and public safety concerns.