Nicolas Maduro and wife Cilia Flores face new charge of conspiracy to torture Americans
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Fox News national correspondent Bryan Llenas reports from Manhattan federal court as former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appears for a hearing on narco-terrorism and drug-trafficking charges. Prosecutors allege Maduro led a drug-trafficking organization for over two decades. His attorneys are expected to argue he is immune from prosecution as a head of state and that his capture by U.S. Special Forces was unlawful. The Treasury Department authorized Venezuela to fund Maduro's legal defense.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York charged former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores with conspiracy to commit torture to Americans and others, according to a superseding indictment filed Thursday.
Maduro's government, according to the indictment, "presided over a system of repression that relied on violence against political opposition, arbitrary detention, and the torture of detainees, including United States citizens."
The torture included "electric shock, asphyxiation, rape , forced nudity, prolonged isolation, starvation, punishment cells, and psychological torture, such as threats to harm and kill victims' families, including children," the indictment read.
The charge carries a maximum of life imprisonment if any of the alleged torture resulted in death, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if not.
FAMILIES SUE MADURO IN US, ACCUSE EX-PRESIDENT OF DIRECTING POLICE UNIT TIED TO EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS
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Nicolas Maduro, wife face torture charge in new U.S. indictment
The couple were already facing charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy; cocaine importation conspiracy; and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
U.S. officials charge Maduro, wife with torturing dissidents
The Justice Department filed a new indictment against deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who have been in federal prison since January.
Maduro expected to face new charges of torture of Americans in Venezuelan prisons
An attorney for Maduro told CBS News that he has not been given notice that additional charges could be coming.