Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to appear Thursday in federal court in Manhattan to face newly filed criminal charges accusing them of participating in a yearslong torture campaign against political opponents, military personnel and others in Venezuela.
According to a court order issued Wednesday, Maduro and Flores are scheduled to be arraigned at 11 a.m. Thursday in Courtroom 26A of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in lower Manhattan before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. The hearing follows the release last week of a superseding indictment that added conspiracy to commit torture charges against both defendants.
Prosecutors allege Maduro and Flores oversaw a government-backed system of repression that included beatings, suffocation, electric shocks and psychological abuse carried out against perceived opponents of the Venezuelan government. The indictment alleges Maduro approved torture methods, received reports on specific detainees and personally threatened family members of prisoners. Flores, a former attorney general of Venezuela, is accused of helping develop the system and directing abuse against specific individuals.
The new charges add to an existing U.S. narcotics trafficking case against the couple. Maduro and Flores have previously pleaded not guilty in that case, which alleges they participated in a conspiracy to flood the United States with cocaine. Their attorneys have sought dismissal of the charges, arguing they are entitled to immunity based on their status as a foreign head of state and first lady.
The updated indictment outlines alleged acts of torture dating back to Maduro’s rise to power in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chávez. Prosecutors contend Venezuelan security forces targeted military officers, opposition leaders and other perceived threats to Maduro’s rule during years of political unrest and economic turmoil.
Read the full torture indictment below
Among the alleged victims are several U.S. citizens. Prosecutors say one American was subjected to electric shocks and forced to ingest his own vomit while detained in Venezuela. Other alleged victims suffered severe beatings, prolonged abuse and permanent injuries, according to the indictment.
Federal prosecutors have described the allegations as evidence of a state-sponsored campaign of repression. The case is expected to rely in part on information provided by former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in New York after being extradited from Spain and has since cooperated with U.S. authorities.
Thursday’s appearance comes one week after Hellerstein denied Flores’ request for home confinement based on medical concerns. Defense attorneys argued that Flores, 69, has experienced significant health problems while being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, including possible cardiac issues. Prosecutors opposed the request, arguing she presents an extreme flight risk. The judge agreed and ordered her to remain in custody.
Court officials said Thursday’s proceeding will be open to the public and members of the press on an in-person basis only. Seating in the courtroom will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and an overflow room may be provided if capacity is reached. Electronic devices will not be permitted inside the courtroom.
The arraignment is expected to formally address the new torture-related charges and set the stage for the next phase of one of the most closely watched international criminal cases currently before a U.S. court.