MADURO AND WIFE PLEAD NOT GUILTY

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 15 /SRNA – Reuters/ – Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have pleaded not guilty to a new US indictment accusing them of conspiring to torture political opponents.

The additional charges, filed last week, significantly expanded the US criminal case against Maduro /63/ and Flores /70/.

They had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of abusing their positions to help drug traffickers transport cocaine.

Maduro and Flores, who were arrested by the US military during a January raid ordered by US President Donald Trump and flown to New York, entered their pleas during a hearing before US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein at the federal courthouse in Manhattan.

Prosecutors in Manhattan allege that Maduro ordered officials to torture opposition politicians and military personnel accused of conspiring against him, in an effort to maintain his grip on power in Venezuela.

Maduro and Flores have not been charged with personally carrying out any acts of torture.

The trial is scheduled for June 1, 2027. Each could face a prison sentence of up to 50 years if convicted on all counts.