Fastrack · Maduro Set to Face New US Torture Allegations in Court

Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores appeared Thursday in Manhattan federal court on a rewritten indictment alleging torture. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein entered not-guilty pleas for both.

Maduro twice answered the judge by calling the charges false accusations.
Three Americans are among the alleged victims, prosecutors say.
Neither defendant is accused of personally carrying out torture.
50-year mandatory minimum sentences apply if they are convicted on all charges.

Why it matters: The indictment alleges Maduro oversaw a system of beatings, asphyxiation and electric shocks dating to 2013. U.S. prosecutions of foreign officials for torture have happened only a few times.

Prosecutors say Maduro recommended torture methods and threatened a prisoner's child.
Flores allegedly helped build the system and ordered specific people tortured.

The story so far

2 steps · since Oct 15

Oct 1512:13 AMMaduro Set to Face New US Torture Allegations in CourtYou are here
Oct 1512:01 PMMaduro Pleads Not Guilty to New US Torture Charges20 sourcesLatest

How 6 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 6 sources

6 sources · 7 articles · 67% Center coverage

Center coverage, 4 sources: The center centers Maduro's courtroom denial and the rarity of U.S. torture prosecutions of foreign officials.

WPLG Local 1019hEx-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says new torture allegations are 'false'CTV News7hEx-Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is returning to U.S. court to face torture allegations Reuters13hVenezuela's Maduro due in court over new US torture charge The National Desk10hMaduro returns to federal court to face new torture allegations

Left coverage, 2 sources: The left frames the hearing around the indictment's detailed torture allegations and the three American victims.

The Independent19hEx-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is returning to federal court to face torture allegations The Boston Globe19hEx-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is returning to federal court to face torture allegations

What’s next: Trial is scheduled for June 1, 2027. Lawyers on both sides want it moved to June 14.

Defense lawyers argue head-of-state immunity should end the case.
Will the court accept the defense's immunity argument for a former head of state?
How will the January military seizure affect the case's legal standing?