Former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to new charges of conspiracy to commit torture in a New York court.
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York court on Thursday. They faced new charges involving a conspiracy to commit torture.
Also, the couple previously faced accusations of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. Officials added the new torture charges against them last week.
Meanwhile, the pair remains in jail following a United States military raid in January. They currently reside at a detention facility in Brooklyn.
Next, the indictment describes a violent system of repression in Venezuela. Prosecutors claim this system caused thousands of people to suffer death or harassment.
Furthermore, the legal documents allege the use of brutal torture methods. These include electric shocks, forced nudity, rape, and starvation.
As a result, the United States government accuses Maduro of authorizing torture against specific victims. This includes reports of American citizens suffering under his regime.
Then, Maduro addressed the court on Thursday. He denied all allegations through a translator and called the accusations completely false.
However, Judge Alvin Hellerstein interrupted him during his statement. The judge officially entered a plea of not guilty for the former leader.
After that, Cilia Flores also claimed she was innocent. She entered a not guilty plea for herself through a translator.
Still, the couple continues to argue for immunity. Their lawyers claim Maduro serves as a sovereign leader and cannot face these charges.
Now, the defense team seeks to have the entire case thrown out. They argue the United States acted illegally by taking the pair into custody.
Finally, the court scheduled the upcoming trial for June 2027. Both Maduro and Flores will remain in custody until that date.