Maduro denies allegations of ordering torture at New York hearing

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denied the allegations against him, including claims that he ordered torture, at a hearing in New York. The next session of the case will be held on December 17.

Scraper SystemOctober 17, 2026, 08:44 PM

Maduro denies allegations of ordering torture at New York hearing

At a hearing in New York, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, denied the allegations against them. Maduro rejected the claim that he ordered certain people to be tortured while serving in office in Venezuela.

Flores also denied the allegations related to claims that Americans and other people detained in Venezuela in recent years were tortured. Maduro and Flores also face drug- and weapons-related charges.

Charges brought by the US Department of Justice

The charges brought by the US Department of Justice include allegations of drug-related terrorism, cocaine trafficking and possessing machine guns and destructive devices for use against the United States.

The US State Department's reward notice for Maduro (archive)

Nicolas Maduro Guerra, Maduro's son, commented on Friday on his father's and Flores' conduct at the hearing. Guerra said, "We saw President Nicolas Maduro, my father, standing tall and holding his head high. This is Nicolas Maduro, a determined man. Celia Flores is standing strong as an undefeated woman."

Next hearing set for December 17

The court scheduled the next hearing for December 17 to consider the defense's arguments seeking dismissal of the case.

Maduro and Flores have been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York's Brooklyn borough since January 3.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan Federal Courthouse in New York (archive)

Trump comments on Venezuela's transitional government

US President Donald Trump said that the United States would assume the administration of Venezuela during the transition period following Maduro's capture in January and that American companies would invest in the country's oil sector. Trump's statement did not provide a date for the transition period's timeline.

Source: Anadolu Ajansı

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