On October 15, 2026, Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores stood before a judge in New York City and entered pleas of not guilty to new United States charges of conspiring to torture political opponents. The couple, who previously held the presidency and the role of first lady in Venezuela, appeared together in the courtroom on that date.
The charges against Maduro and Flores stem from allegations of state-sponsored repression during Maduro's presidency. Human rights groups have long accused Venezuelan officials of torture, but this marks the first time Maduro could be held accountable.
If found guilty on all counts, the law prescribes a mandatory minimum sentence of fifty years in prison for each of them. This reflects the mandatory minimum sentence for the charges, which also include drug-trafficking allegations.
For years, human rights groups have accused Venezuelan officials of torture.
For years, human rights groups have accused Venezuelan officials of torture. Human rights groups have long accused Venezuelan officials of torture, but this marks the first time Maduro could be held accountable. The appearance of Maduro and Flores therefore marks a notable shift in the possibility of accountability for alleged state-sponsored repression during his presidency.
Both Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores individually entered pleas of not guilty to the torture charges.
The source summaries set the trial for June 14, 2027.
Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiring to torture political opponents. The case is scheduled for trial in June 2027, and if convicted they each face a mandatory minimum of fifty years imprisonment.
