{
  "id": 13002540,
  "title": "Venezuela’s Maduro, wife hit with new US torture charges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/venezuelas-maduro-wife-hit-with-new-us-torture-charges",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T01:43:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/09/venezuelas-maduro-wife-hit-with-new-us-torture-charges/238326"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 9, the United States announced fresh torture charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This development further bolsters the criminal case against the couple, who are currently in U.S. custody. Initially, Maduro and Flores were accused of drug trafficking and firearms offenses following a military raid on their Caracas residence in January. The new charges include conspiracy to commit torture against victims, including U.S. citizens, in Venezuelan detention facilities. Prosecutors allege that the couple employed waterboarding, rapes, and beatings to intimidate, harass, and neutralize their opponents, including through kidnappings.\n\nIn 2022, there were reports of an American being tortured by Venezuelan authorities for allegedly plotting to assassinate Maduro. The alleged torture methods included electric shocks to arms, legs, and genitals, asphyxiation, beatings, deprivation of food and water, and forced injections causing seizures. During his presidency from 2013 to 2026, Maduro faced widespread accusations of using political repression to maintain his grip on power.\n\nThe additional charges come as Maduro and Flores are set for a trial in New York next June, while currently being held in a Brooklyn jail. U.S. prosecutors claim that Maduro utilized state power to facilitate illegal drug smuggling and allied with cartels to transport tons of cocaine into the United States. Maduro has maintained his innocence, describing himself as a \"prisoner of war\" and alleging that U.S. military forces kidnapped him. His wife, Flores, has also pleaded not guilty to the charges, adding that she faces an additional conspiracy charge of \"narco-terrorism.\" Yesterday, a U.S. court denied Flores' request to be moved from jail to private home detention due to what appears to be a heart condition. Both Maduro and Flores have appealed to have the charges against them dismissed, arguing that they possess immunity as president and first lady of a sovereign nation. Since Maduro's capture, Venezuela's vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez, has served as an interim leader, facing significant pressure from the U.S. administration. Since then, U.S. energy firms have signed multiple multi-billion-dollar agreements with Venezuela, which has agreed to grant the United States control over a significant portion of its vast oil reserves.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK, Oct 9 — The United States yesterday filed new torture charges against ousted Venezuelan president Nicola...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Venezuela's Maduro, wife hit with new US torture charges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/venezuelas-maduro-wife-hit-with-new-us-torture-charges",
        "published": "2026-10-08T20:59:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}