Nicolás Maduro And His Wife Hit With New Torture Conspiracy Charges In New York — Here's What The Indictment Says

Former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been hit with new charges in the US: conspiracy to commit torture.

The charges come in a superseding indictment, unsealed in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday, according to The Guardian. Sky News also reports the pair now face the new charges from US authorities.

What The Indictment Alleges

Prosecutors say Maduro, Flores and other Venezuelan leaders "presided over a system of repression" that relied on violence against political opposition, arbitrary detention and the torture of detainees, including US citizens, per the Guardian's reading of the court papers.

The document alleges the couple "sat atop that violent power structure". It also claims Flores helped develop the system and ordered that people be tortured to protect her family members' illegal activities.

The filing describes alleged abuses in grim detail. One US citizen was allegedly held in Venezuela and subjected to deprivation of food and water, simulated drowning, beatings, electric shocks and forced injections.

The indictment further alleges that when a judicial official resisted pressure, intelligence agents arrested and tortured that official's family members. The official eventually gave in and blocked opposition figures from running for office, according to the papers.

Maduro and Flores have previously pleaded not guilty in the original case against them. These new allegations are claims by prosecutors, not findings by a court.

What Happened In Court

The new indictment surfaced shortly before Flores appeared in court on Thursday to push for pretrial release, the Guardian reports. Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied the request.

Her lawyers proposed house arrest with 24-hour private security and cited chronic health issues, including heart problems. The judge pushed back on those claims, and prosecutors argued Flores was a flight risk and had received appropriate medical care.

Her team also told the court that she has lost more than 25lbs and two teeth since being detained.

How We Got Here

Maduro and Flores have been jailed in New York since early January. They were captured by US special forces in a predawn assault on Caracas and flown to New York to face "narcoterrorism"-related charges, a move that drew widespread international outrage, per the Guardian.

At his first US court appearance, Maduro said: "I'm a kidnapped president, a prisoner of war!" President Trump has defended the operation as a "surgical law enforcement operation".

Since Maduro's removal, the US has moved to gain access to Venezuela's huge oil reserves. The Guardian notes that Trump announced a new oil deal in August, though its own investigation found the deal is likely to run into legal and logistical problems.

What Happens Next

Both defendants remain in custody. The new torture conspiracy charge adds to the existing narcoterrorism case, and both have pleaded not guilty to the earlier charges. The reports do not say when a trial is expected.

What to watch: how the defense responds to the new charges, and whether Flores's team renews its bid for release.

Do you think the new charges change how this case is seen internationally? Tell us in the comments.

Sources: The Guardian | Sky News