Exclusive: Nicolás Maduro and his wife expected to face new charges over alleged torture of Americans

Key Points:

• New charges are expected against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in New York for the alleged torture of Americans detained in Venezuelan prisons during Maduro’s regime.
• The US government alleges wrongful detention and torture of more than a dozen US citizens, including methods such as waterboarding, electrocution, and solitary confinement, with some victims filing lawsuits detailing their abuse.
• Maduro and Flores, currently held without bail in New York on narcoterrorism conspiracy charges, deny the allegations; Flores is seeking house arrest ahead of trial, while Maduro’s legal team challenges the arrest’s legality citing presidential immunity.
• Additional individuals may face charges related to the torture of Americans, with investigations focusing on abuses carried out by the Venezuelan General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), known for systematic torture and mistreatment.
• The Venezuelan government has not claimed immunity for Maduro, and the case highlights ongoing US concerns about political repression and human rights abuses under Maduro’s leadership.