Politics
Maduro and Flores deny conspiracy-to-torture charge in Manhattan court
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to a new charge alleging a conspiracy to torture detainees. Their trial was delayed by two weeks.
Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of conspiracy to commit torture in a Manhattan federal court proceeding. The charge alleges that the couple conspired to torture detainees in Venezuela; the allegations have not been proven in court.
Maduro tried several times to declare his innocence, but U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein repeatedly interrupted him. Maduro and Flores appeared in tan prison clothing with their ankles shackled.
The trial was delayed by two weeks. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.