Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are expected to file new charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, for their alleged roles in the torture of Americans held in Venezuelan prisons, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.
The developments come as Flores is scheduled to appear in federal court in the Southern District of New York on Thursday for a bond hearing, with a tentative trial date set for June 2027. Prosecutors have not yet formally announced the new charges, but sources indicated they could be revealed as soon as Thursday.
Maduro and Flores were previously indicted in January on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses, stemming from allegations that they conspired with drug traffickers to flood the U.S. with narcotics. The couple has pleaded not guilty and was arrested by U.S. authorities in an overnight operation and brought to the U.S. to face the charges.
Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack, told CBS News he had not received any notice of additional charges. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by CBS News.
Legal Context and Existing Charges
The case against Maduro and Flores was initially brought in March 2020 in the Southern District of New York, during the first Trump administration. The indictment accused Maduro of being at the "forefront of corruption" and working with drug traffickers and narco-terrorists to facilitate cocaine shipments into the U.S. The charges include:
- Narco-terrorism conspiracy
- Cocaine importation conspiracy
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
- Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices
Maduro and Flores have argued that they are entitled to foreign sovereign immunity, claiming they were acting as officials of Venezuela at the time of the alleged offenses. However, prosecutors have countered that neither defendant is entitled to this protection, stating in a recent court filing that the U.S. has not recognized Maduro as Venezuela’s head of state since January 2019. The government further argued that foreign sovereign immunity is "a matter of grace and comity on the part of the U.S., and not a restriction imposed by the Constitution."
Bond Hearing and Medical Claims
Flores is set to appear in court Thursday to address a request for her release from custody, citing ongoing medical issues, including a heart condition. Prosecutors have opposed her release, arguing that neither defendant is entitled to immunity and that Venezuela has not asserted immunity on their behalf.
The case has drawn international attention, with U.S. officials emphasizing the alleged human rights abuses tied to the detention of Americans in Venezuela. Prosecutors allege that more than a dozen Americans were wrongfully detained and tortured while Maduro was in power, though specific details about the victims and methods of torture have not been disclosed in the available reporting.
Next Steps and Timeline
The new charges, if filed, would expand the scope of the existing case, adding allegations of torture to the existing drug trafficking and weapons charges. A trial date has been tentatively set for June 2027, though legal proceedings could extend beyond this timeframe depending on developments.
Prosecutors have not yet publicly confirmed the new charges, and the case remains ongoing. Further updates are expected following Thursday’s bond hearing and any subsequent announcements from the Justice Department.