Maduro and wife reject new torture charges in New York court

Key points

• Maduro and Flores entered not-guilty pleas to new torture charges in the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Federal Courthouse.
• The superseding indictment alleges Maduro authorized torture methods including electric shock, asphyxiation, and rape against political opponents and Americans.
• Maduro rejected the document entirely, calling the accusations false, while Flores stated she is completely innocent.
• The couple was captured in a US military raid in Caracas in January 2026 and remains in custody in Brooklyn.
• Lawyers argue the case should be dismissed based on sovereign immunity, a claim prosecutors reject.
• The trial date has been moved from June 1 to June 14, 2027, by mutual request of both sides.

Background

This development follows the unsealing of a superseding indictment in early October 2026, which added torture counts to existing narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges. In September, former Venezuelan official Alex Saab pleaded guilty to money laundering in a related case, agreeing to cooperate with US investigators. The current charges stem from allegations that Maduro’s government used violence and torture to suppress opposition from 2013 until his capture.

How outlets are covering it

ABC News and The Guardian emphasize Maduro’s active rejection of the charges, noting he waved to the audience and called the accusations false. BBC highlights the physical toll of detention, noting the couple appeared to have lost weight while held in Brooklyn. All three outlets agree on the core facts of the plea and the immunity defense, but The Guardian provides specific details on alleged torture methods, such as threatening a prisoner’s child, which are not detailed in the other reports. BBC notes that Flores previously failed to secure release on bond due to health issues, a detail omitted by ABC and The Guardian.

Why it matters

The case represents a rare instance of the US prosecuting a former head of state for torture, challenging the doctrine of sovereign immunity. The outcome could set a precedent for holding foreign leaders accountable for human rights abuses in US courts, regardless of their official status at the time of the alleged crimes.

What to watch

The next major legal step is the trial scheduled for June 14, 2027. In the interim, the defense will likely continue to argue for dismissal based on sovereign immunity, while prosecutors will prepare evidence regarding the alleged torture system and the involvement of US citizens as victims.