U.S. prosecutors may bring new charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, over alleged torture of U.S. citizens in Venezuelan prisons. CNN, Reuters and Deutsche Welle reported this, citing a U.S. official.
Reuters reported that the charges could be announced as soon as Oct. 8. Sources said they concern more than a dozen U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela during Maduro’s 13-year rule. No official charging document has been published, and the alleged conduct has not been tested in court.
U.S. forces seized Maduro and Flores in Caracas on Jan. 3 and took them to the United States. The couple have pleaded not guilty to earlier charges, including narco-terrorism, weapons trafficking and money laundering. The Associated Press reported that their trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027. They could face life imprisonment if convicted.
The defense is challenging the case and says Maduro has immunity as a foreign head of state and Flores as first lady. Current reports concern possible new charges, separate from those already before the court. There had been no official confirmation that they were filed at the time of publication.