{
  "id": 12887631,
  "title": "New Charges Target Maduro and Wife Over Alleged Torture of US Citizens",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/new-charges-target-maduro-and-wife-over-alleged-torture-of-us-citizens-12887631",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T12:18:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/08/new-charges-target-maduro-and-wife-over-alleged-torture-of-us-citizensmaduro-torture-charges-americans/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are set to face new criminal charges in the United States for alleged torture of American citizens held in Venezuelan prisons during the Maduro administration, according to U.S. officials and people familiar with the investigation. The charges, reportedly expected to be announced as early as October 8, 2023, would expand the existing federal case against Maduro and Flores, which primarily centers on narcotics, arms trafficking, and other offenses. U.S. authorities are examining testimony from Americans who claim they endured severe abuse, such as simulated drowning, electric shocks, and isolation, while in Venezuelan custody. Notable among those who alleged abuse are Matthew Heath and Osman Khan, both imprisoned in Venezuela and released in October 2022. Heath, a U.S. Marine veteran, even attempted suicide during his detention. The new charges could add a significant dimension to the ongoing trial, which is scheduled to commence in June 2027 in New York District Court.",
  "summary": "Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are expected to face new criminal charges in the United States over allegations that Americans held in Venezuelan prisons were tortured during Maduro’s government. Federal prosecutors in New York are preparing the charges as an addition to the case already facing Maduro and Flores, according […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Maduro and wife Flores charged in US over alleged torture",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/maduro-and-wife-flores-charged-in-us-over-alleged-torture",
        "published": "2026-10-08T00:13:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Colombia One",
        "title": "New Charges Target Maduro and Wife Over Alleged Torture of US Citizens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/new-charges-target-maduro-and-wife-over-alleged-torture-of-us-citizens",
        "published": "2026-10-08T12:18:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian",
        "title": "Nicolás Maduro and his wife indicted for alleged torture of US citizens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/nicolas-maduro-and-his-wife-indicted-for-alleged-torture-of-us",
        "published": "2026-10-08T14:37:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "US files new torture charges against Venezuela’s Maduro, wife",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-files-new-torture-charges-against-venezuelas-maduro-wife",
        "published": "2026-10-08T15:59:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, wife face new charges over alleged torture",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/former-venezuelan-leader-nicolas-maduro-wife-face-new-charges-over",
        "published": "2026-10-08T17:26:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}