Nicolas Maduro Faces New Torture Charges in Manhattan Court

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in Manhattan federal court on October 15, 2026, to respond to a new indictment. The charges accuse the couple of conspiring to lead a state-sponsored campaign of torture against military personnel and political opponents, including three Americans. Prosecutors allege Maduro directed the use of psychological torture, asphyxiation, and electric shocks, while Flores helped develop the repressive system.

This indictment expands an existing criminal case in which the couple previously pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to ship cocaine into the United States. Maduro and Flores were captured in January during a U.S. military raid on their Caracas home ordered by President Donald Trump.

Defense lawyers have denied the torture allegations and argued for dismissal based on sovereign immunity. If convicted on all charges, both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years in prison. Their trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027.