Berliner Tageblatt - Venezuela's Maduro, wife hit with new US torture charges

Maduro and Flores already face drug trafficking and firearms charges in the United States after they were snatched from their Caracas compound in an extraordinary US military raid in January.

A new court filing shows both are now additionally charged with conspiracy to commit torture, stating that they "inflicted severe physical and mental pain and suffering."

The alleged goal was to "repress and punish political opposition, silence dissent and perceived dissent, preserve and protect the power and authority of the members of the conspiracy, and intimidate, harass, and neutralize their opponents, including through kidnappings."

Prosecutors detailed apparent instances of unidentified victims, including US citizens, being shocked with electric wires, waterboarded and raped while in Venezuelan detention.

In a 2022 instance, Venezuelan authorities allegedly tortured an American who they accused of plotting to assassinate Maduro.

"That torture included electric shock to (the victim's) arms, legs, and genitals; asphyxiation; beatings; deprivation of food and water; and forced injections of a substance that caused (the victim) to experience seizures," the filing states.

During his 2013-2026 presidency, rights groups widely accused Maduro of using political repression to cling to power.

- 'Prisoner of war' -

Maduro and Flores are slated for a trial in New York next June and are currently being held in a Brooklyn jail.

US prosecutors claim that Maduro used state power to protect and promote illegal drug smuggling, and that he allied himself with cartels to ship tons of cocaine into the United States.

Maduro has denied the charges he originally faced: "narco-terrorism" conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices as well as conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

He has described himself as a "prisoner of war" and said the US military kidnapped him.

Flores has similarly pleaded not guilty to cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

She was additionally charged Thursday with "narco-terrorism" conspiracy, the court filing showed.

The pair have asked a US judge to dismiss the charges against them, claiming they have immunity as president and first lady of a sovereign country.

Since Maduro's capture, vice president Delcy Rodriguez has governed Venezuela as interim leader under intense pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration.

US energy firms have this year signed a raft of multi-billion-dollar deals with Venezuela, which has agreed to grant the United States control of a huge chunk of its vast oil reserves.

C.Kovalenko--BTB