Nicolás Maduro, the former Venezuelan President, appeared in a Manhattan federal court in New York City to face legal proceedings.
During the court session, a Manhattan federal judge interrupted Maduro while he was speaking. The interruption came as the judge sought to move the proceeding forward and obtain a clear response from the defendant.
Maduro pleads not guilty to new torture-related charges in New York https://t.co/7jDSuMoBZr
The judge asked Maduro to provide a straightforward answer to whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty to the indictment filed against him. The question was intended to cut through any lengthy explanations and establish his position on the charges.
The charges allege that Maduro and Flores led a state-sponsored campaign of repression that included torture.
In response to the judge’s query, Maduro denied the new charges that accuse him of torturing United States citizens. He maintained that the accusations were baseless and rejected the notion that he had personally overseen such acts.
Following the denial, the judge announced that the trial would be postponed to June 14, 2027.
On the same day, prosecutors filed additional charges against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The expanded indictment broadened the scope of the criminal case, introducing allegations that go beyond the original accusations.
Maduro je imao posebnu poruku za suca. https://t.co/hRYAR8DO47
The charges allege that Maduro and Flores led a state-sponsored campaign of repression that included torture. Victims of this campaign reportedly included three United States citizens, underscoring the international dimension of the accusations.
Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, presiding over the hearing, entered a ‘not guilty’ plea on behalf of both Maduro and Flores. This procedural move recorded their formal denial of the charges before any trial testimony could be heard.
Maduro and Flores subsequently pleaded not guilty to the newly added torture conspiracy charges. Their pleas underscored their contention that the allegations were unfounded and that they had not participated in the alleged wrongdoing.
The prosecution argues the alleged torture was carried out to help Maduro maintain his grip on power in Venezuela. The accusation links the alleged acts to a broader strategy of suppressing political opposition and securing his rule.
Maduro himself characterized the accusations as “false accusations and false testimony.”
The document further says that Flores agreed with this plan in a meeting and dismissed an alternative proposal to gather intelligence by infiltrating opposition ranks.