Maduro and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Added US Torture Charges
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty in a New York court on October 15 to newly added conspiracy-to-commit-torture charges. Prosecutors allege a repression system involving Venezuelan and US victims; both defendants deny the accusations.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
Places in the report
- Venezuela[1]
Countries named in the cited reporting. Highlighting does not show the area affected. Map: Natural Earth.
The story at a glanceReported details
Event date: Maduro and Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty to the added charges in a New York court on October 15, 2026. [2][3]
What happened
At a federal court hearing in New York on October 15, Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to new charges accusing them of conspiring to commit torture. Maduro called the allegations false, while Flores declared her innocence through a translator. [2][3]
References for this detail (2)
- Venezuela's Maduro denies US torture charges as 'false accusations'jamaicaobserver.com · Article published: Oct 16, 2026, 12:17 AM UTC
- Nicolás Maduro, Wife Plead Not Guilty To New Charges | News Radio 105.5 WERCwercfm.iheart.com · Recorded source date: Oct 15, 2026, 10:47 PM UTC
The added charges follow an earlier US case involving alleged narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses. The indictment alleges that the couple directed or helped maintain a repressive system affecting Venezuelan political opponents and American citizens. [1][3]
References for this detail (2)
- US Prosecutors Add Torture Charge Against Former Venezuelan Leader Madurotheepochtimes.com · Article published: Oct 8, 2026, 3:51 PM UTC
- Nicolás Maduro, Wife Plead Not Guilty To New Charges | News Radio 105.5 WERCwercfm.iheart.com · Recorded source date: Oct 15, 2026, 10:47 PM UTC
Prosecutors allege that at least nine victims were subjected to abuses including electric shock, asphyxiation, rape, forced nudity, prolonged isolation, starvation, and punishment cells. These are allegations in the charging document, not established findings at trial. [3]
References for this detail (1)
- Nicolás Maduro, Wife Plead Not Guilty To New Charges | News Radio 105.5 WERCwercfm.iheart.com · Recorded source date: Oct 15, 2026, 10:47 PM UTC
The prosecution filing describes alleged incidents involving US citizens detained in Venezuela, including a 2023 case in which a military counterintelligence officer allegedly attacked a traveler before the person was hospitalized and imprisoned. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- US Prosecutors Add Torture Charge Against Former Venezuelan Leader Madurotheepochtimes.com · Article published: Oct 8, 2026, 3:51 PM UTC
The defense argues that Maduro and Flores are protected by sovereign immunity and that their capture and detention by US forces were illegal acts of war. The court has scheduled trial proceedings for June 2027, after pretrial arguments. [3]
References for this detail (1)
- Nicolás Maduro, Wife Plead Not Guilty To New Charges | News Radio 105.5 WERCwercfm.iheart.com · Recorded source date: Oct 15, 2026, 10:47 PM UTC
Context from the sources
The superseding indictment was unsealed on October 8 and covers alleged conduct spanning 1999 to 2025, according to the prosecution account. The described period includes Maduro’s presidency after 2013 but does not itself establish guilt. [1]
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
3 source links · 3 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [1] US Prosecutors Add Torture Charge Against Former Venezuelan Leader Madurotheepochtimes.comReferenced for: detail 2, detail 4
- [3] Nicolás Maduro, Wife Plead Not Guilty To New Charges | News Radio 105.5 WERCwercfm.iheart.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 3, detail 5
- [2] Venezuela's Maduro denies US torture charges as 'false accusations'jamaicaobserver.comReferenced for: detail 1
Questions answered by the reporting
What does the new indictment allege?
Prosecutors allege that Maduro and Flores helped direct a system of repression and torture, including alleged abuse of at least nine victims, three of them U.S. citizens. [1][3]
What happens next in the case?
The trial is scheduled to begin on June 14, 2027, while the defense continues to challenge the prosecution and the legality of the couple’s capture and detention. [3]
What this could mean for you
The case could affect the legal status and detention of two former Venezuelan leaders in US custody as the court considers immunity, capture, and the torture allegations before trial.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
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Still unclear
The excerpts do not establish whether the court has ruled on the sovereign-immunity or legality-of-capture challenges.
The allegations remain unresolved; the excerpts do not provide a verdict or judicial finding on the charged conduct.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (3)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
Prosecutors have added an additional charge of torture against former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Maduro and Cilia Flores were charged in a…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty Thursday to new torture charges brought…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in federal court in New York City on Thursday (October 15) to plead not…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
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