Report: Maduro, wife face new US charges over alleged torture of Americans

The U.S. is poised to file fresh torture charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, according to a report by CNN. Both Maduro and Flores have already been indicted on drug trafficking and firearms charges following a surprising U.S. military operation in January. The new allegations, as per CNN, pertain to the wrongful imprisonment of a dozen or more U.S. citizens during Maduro's presidency.

Prosecutors are also mulling charges against several others involved in the torture of Americans. These charges could be officially announced by Thursday. The matter has not yet elicited a response from the individuals' legal teams. A trial for Maduro and Flores is scheduled for June in New York, with the duo currently incarcerated in a Brooklyn jail.

U.S. authorities allege that Maduro utilized state resources to sustain and advance illicit drug trafficking, and that he colluded with cartels to transport substantial quantities of cocaine into the U.S. Maduro has vehemently denied the four charges he faces, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.

His wife faces similar charges, having pleaded not guilty to three counts: cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. Flores is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow for a hearing regarding her request to be transferred from custody to house arrest due to reported heart issues. An ally of Maduro has also pleaded guilty in a $195 million money laundering case in a U.S. court.