Home · World · Oct 15 archive
Maduro and Flores Plead Not Guilty to Torture Charges in New York
Confirmed
In Short: Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in a New York City courtroom on Thursday, pleading not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appeared in a New York City courtroom on Thursday, where they pleaded not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture, according to reports from Al Jazeera (Qatar), BBC (United Kingdom), and France 24 (France).
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Maduro urged his enforcers to work harder to extract information from detained military personnel in 2014, and suggested sleep deprivation and pouring water on detainees as methods of torture. The indictment also detailed several instances where Maduro and Flores specifically identified individuals to be targeted, asked for updates on the torture, or suggested techniques.
BBC (United Kingdom) and France 24 (France) both reported that US Attorney Jamie McDonald said the couple had engaged in a conspiracy to commit torture for over two decades, targeting individuals viewed as disloyal or a threat to their illegal narcotics activity, as well as a means of repression against the political opposition.
According to Al Jazeera (Qatar), the new indictment accused Maduro and Flores of overseeing a system of torture, arbitrary detention, and violence. However, US prosecutors did not accuse the couple of directly taking part in the torture.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and BBC (United Kingdom) reported that Maduro and Flores were captured in January during a US military raid in Caracas and have been in New York jail since then.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and BBC (United Kingdom) noted that the judge postponed the start of the trial until June 14, 2027, which was initially set for June 1.
Maduro rejected the document in its entirety during the appearance, stating, “I reject this document in its entirety,” according to Al Jazeera (Qatar). He also said he had been “kidnapped” by the US military, as reported by Al Jazeera (Qatar) and BBC (United Kingdom).
Maduro and Flores appeared in court on Thursday in beige prison uniforms, denying the allegations, which include creating a repressive environment that led to the torture and killing of thousands of Venezuelans and U.S. citizens, as reported by Wvoc.
The indictment states that the alleged torture methods included electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, prolonged isolation, starvation, punishment cells, and psychological torture, according to BBC (United Kingdom), Telesurenglish, and Jpost (Israel).
Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, said when the charges were announced last week that Maduro denied them and “looks forward to his day in court,” as reported by The Guardian.
Al Jazeera (Qatar), BBC (United Kingdom), and France 24 (France) all reported that Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the new charges of conspiracy to commit torture, calling them “false allegations.”
Al Jazeera (Qatar), BBC (United Kingdom), and France 24 (France) agree that Maduro and Flores appeared in a New York City courtroom on Thursday, where they pleaded not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture, and that the couple was captured in January during a US military raid in Caracas.
Background
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are expected to face new charges over alleged torture of Americans detained in Venezuelan prisons.
What's confirmed
- “I reject this document in its entirety,” Maduro said during the appearance on Thursday.
- Maduro and wife appear in New York City court after new ‘conspiracy to commit torture’ charges.
- Maduro and Flores were captured in January during a US military raid, after which they were taken to New York, where they remain in jail.
- "false accusations and false testimony against me."
- The alleged torture methods included "electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, prolonged isolation, starvation, punishment cells, and psychological torture", the indictment states.
- Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty on Thursday to new torture charges brought against them by US authorities, calling them “false allegations".
What's still developing
- The pair had previously pleaded not guilty to several other charges, including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy and possession of machineguns and destructive devices.
- Abuses committed under Maduro’s rule included beatings, electrocutions and threatening family members of detainees, the indictment said.
- Venezuela's ex-leader Nicolás Maduro charged with conspiracy to commit torture 'I thought I was going to die': Jailed Venezuelan activist details brutality of prison life UN receives reports alleging torture of detainees in Venezuela continues Bus collides with train stopped on French side of Channel Tunnel leaving at least 19 hurt Trump calls off livestream of Fort Hood attacker's execution by firing squad Trans people should use hospital spaces according to biological sex, NHS England says My son wants to try protein powders - I asked experts how safe it was Wales has an education crisis.
- Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday, more than a year after a jury found the former Hollywood mogul guilty of sexually assaulting former “Project Runway” production assistant Miriam Haley in a high-stakes retrial.
- Sanchez filed a motion for a guilty plea and a sentencing hearing in Marion Superior Court on Sept. 3, CBS Sports reported.
- Former Hollywood producer sentenced by a New York court a year after conviction Former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for the sexual assault charge for which he was found guilty over a year ago.
- Homeland Security Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas said Lathiya’s conduct had placed him “at the source of the fentanyl supply chain, where he knowingly moved the chemical building blocks of a lethal drug into the United States through deception, false labeling, and international shipments in a prosecution that breaks new ground against an India based supplier”.
- Selma Blair has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault.
- Sanchez is now facing felony charges following an alleged fight with a 69-year-old grease truck driver.