In New York, Nicolas Maduro rejects torture allegations and denounces false allegations

Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty to new torture charges brought against them by U.S. authorities in a federal court in New York. During a 30-minute hearing, the two rejected allegations of violence committed against political opponents, including electrocutions, beatings, and simulated drownings. Maduro described the charges as "false accusations" and "false testimonies." The hearing took place on October 15, 2026, before Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Maduro, 63, stood before the judge in a beige prisoner’s uniform and spoke in Spanish, stating, "I reject this document in its entirety because it contains false accusations and false testimonies." His wife, Cilia Flores, 70, wearing the same uniform, declared herself "completely innocent." The charges stem from a period when Maduro led Venezuela from March 2013 to January 2026. Prosecutors allege that the couple conspired to commit acts of torture to intimidate, harass, and neutralize opponents, including through kidnappings. One specific case mentioned involves an American citizen arrested in 2022 and allegedly tortured after being accused of plotting to assassinate Maduro. According to a court filing, the torture included electric shocks to limbs and genital areas, asphyxiation, beatings, and forced injections of substances causing seizures. The couple had been held in a Brooklyn jail since their dramatic capture by U.S. forces in early January 2026. Initially charged with overseeing a significant cocaine trafficking operation between Venezuela and the United States, they now face additional charges related to a conspiracy to commit torture. The trial is scheduled to begin in June 2027. Maduro and Flores have previously claimed immunity as the former president and first lady of a sovereign nation. They were captured under orders from U.S. President Donald Trump and have since filed appeals to dismiss the charges. Their legal team has argued that the charges are politically motivated and based on fabricated evidence. Prosecutors allege that Maduro used state power to protect and promote illegal drug smuggling, forming alliances with cartels to transport tons of cocaine into the United States. The couple faces potential minimum sentences of 50 years each if found guilty on all counts. Following the hearing, Judge Hellerstein postponed the start of the trial until June 14, 2027. The case has drawn attention due to the high-profile nature of the defendants and the serious nature of the charges. Since Maduro's capture, interim President Delcy Rodriguez has taken over governance in Venezuela, operating under pressure from the U.S. administration. She has implemented reforms aimed at opening up Venezuela’s oil sector to international investment and signed agreements granting the U.S. control over a significant portion of the country’s oil reserves. The legal proceedings against Maduro and Flores continue to unfold, with further developments expected as the trial approaches.