US charges Venezuela's ex-leader Nicolás Maduro with conspiracy to commit torture
US prosecutors charged former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores with conspiracy to commit torture, adding to existing drug-trafficking and weapons charges. The new accusations, made public on October 8, 2026, allege they ordered the torture of American citizens held in Venezuelan prisons. Maduro and Flores have been in US custody since January 2026 after a raid on their Caracas compound. Their trial is set for June 2027.
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US prosecutors charge Venezuela's ex-leader Nicolás Maduro with conspiracy to commit torture
US prosecutors have charged former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, with conspiracy to commit torture, in addition to existing drug-trafficking and weapons charges they have denied. The new accusations, made public on October 8, 2026, relate to the alleged torture of US citizens held in Venezuela while Maduro was in power. Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, have been in US custody since January 2026, after US forces seized them in a pre-dawn raid on their compound in Caracas. They are being held in a Brooklyn detention center. Human rights groups and former prisoners have long denounced what they describe as systematic torture in Venezuelan jails. The trial for both is scheduled to begin in June 2027.
Read sourceVenezuela's Maduro and wife Flores charged in US over alleged torture of Americans
Nicolás Maduro, the former president of Venezuela, and his wife Cilia Flores have been charged by the United States Department of Justice with conspiracy to commit torture. The charges, reported by Reuters, The Guardian, The New York Times, CNN, and the BBC, allege that Maduro and Flores ordered the torture of American citizens held in Venezuelan prisons. The indictments represent a significant escalation in US legal actions against the Venezuelan leadership, which has been under US sanctions for years. The charges are part of a broader US effort to hold Maduro's government accountable for human rights abuses. Maduro, who remains in power despite widespread international condemnation and disputed elections, has denied similar allegations in the past. The US has offered a reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest on separate drug trafficking charges. The new charges specifically focus on the alleged torture of American nationals, marking a direct confrontation between the US and the Maduro administration.
Read sourceFormer Venezuelan President Maduro and wife face new US torture charges
Multiple news outlets report that former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, are expected to face new charges this week from the United States Department of Justice. The charges, detailed in a new indictment, relate to the alleged torture of American citizens. The reports, from BBC, CNN, Axios, The Guardian, and CBC, indicate the indictment marks an escalation in US legal actions against the ousted Venezuelan leader and his spouse. The specific allegations involve the torture of Americans, according to the exclusive reporting by CNN. The development follows previous US charges against Maduro, including drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. The new indictment adds torture to the list of alleged crimes, signaling a broadening of the legal case against the former head of state and his family members.
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Former Venezuelan President Maduro and wife face new US torture charges
Federal prosecutors are expected to bring additional charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, accusing them of playing a role in the torture of Americans held in Venezuelan prisons, according to CBS News, the BBC's US media partner. The new charges come after US forces seized Maduro and Flores from their Caracas compound in a dramatic night-time raid on January 3, 2026, and brought them to New York to face existing drug and weapons charges, which they deny. Additional individuals may also be charged for torturing over a dozen wrongfully detained Americans. Maduro's attorney, Barry Pollack, stated he was not notified about any additional charges. Flores is scheduled for a bond hearing on Thursday, and the trial for both is set for June 2027. Maduro has previously dismissed the charges as a tool for US imperial plans to access Venezuela's oil reserves. His legal team has requested the charges be dismissed, arguing he is immune as a sovereign leader and that his seizure was illegal; the judge has not yet ruled.
Read sourceNicolás Maduro and wife expected to face new US charges over alleged torture of Americans
Multiple news outlets report that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to face new criminal charges in the United States related to the alleged torture of American citizens in Venezuelan prisons. The reports, citing unnamed sources and officials, indicate the charges are forthcoming from the U.S. Department of Justice. CNN, Fox News, CBS News, and Reuters all carry the story, with some outlets describing it as an exclusive. The charges would add to existing U.S. indictments against Maduro for drug trafficking and other crimes. Separately, EL PAÍS English reports that the Venezuelan government has confirmed it did not seek Maduro's release or request immunity to prevent a U.S. trial, suggesting Caracas is not negotiating on this matter. The reports attribute the information to anonymous sources and officials, and the exact timing and nature of the charges remain unspecified.