U.S. accuses Maduro, wife of torturing dissidents, Americans

The Department of Justice filed additional charges on Thursday against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, of torturing dissidents, including Americans. The Maduro regime tortured over a dozen American citizens in its custody with drugs, electrocution, and sexual assault, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote Thursday.

The couple has remained in New York under federal custody since January, when U.S. forces infiltrated Venezuela and arrested the couple in a nighttime raid. Maduro previously pleaded not guilty to all federal charges against him, including various drug and weapon conspiracy charges.

The Maduros now face charges of broad conspiracy to torture U.S. citizens, Venezuelans, and others who opposed their regime, U.S. Attorney James McDonald noted during a Thursday press conference. The new indictment also added narco-terrorism charges against Cilia. The Maduros and other Venezuelan leaders used murder threats, electric shock, asphyxiation, starvation, rape, and beatings to silence political opposition, McDonald said. Over a dozen American citizens were tortured, along with thousands of Venezuelans, to ensure that the Maduros retained power, McDonald continued.

The new indictment alleged that both Maduros oversaw the torture of Americans for more than 20 years, Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote Thursday. Prosecutors spent months working to uncover the full extent of the Maduros’ alleged crimes, and the new charges reflected the DOJ’s commitment to getting justice for victims of torture, narco-terrorism, and organized crime, he added.

What's the status of Maduro's court case after 10 months in custody? Maduro and his wife previously pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against them in January. Court records on Thursday did not immediately show new pleas entered after the new superseding indictment. The court scheduled a trial for June 2027, but the new charges may change that timeline.