US media: Maduro and wife to face new charges in New York; wife in poor health
In short
New York prosecutors are expected to bring new charges against detained Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife over alleged abuse of Americans held by the Venezuelan government, CNN reported on October 7, according to a Xinhua report carried by Jiemian. His wife, Flores, was expected to appear at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on October 8, where her lawyers would seek house arrest before trial. Her legal team told Business Insider that she has lost two teeth and 25 pounds and that her heart condition is worsening.
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New York prosecutors are expected to bring new charges against detained Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife on suspicion of abusing Americans held by the Venezuelan government, CNN reported on October 7, according to a Xinhua report carried by Jiemian. Maduro and his wife are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. Yicai and Xinhua also ran the report under the same headline, attributing it to US media. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the report, Flores was expected to appear on October 8 at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Her lawyers would ask that she be moved to house arrest before trial. Separately, Business Insider, citing her legal team, reported that Flores is in poor health: she has lost two teeth and 25 pounds, and her heart condition is getting worse. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The reported charges would add to the case against a detained head of state held in the United States. The house arrest request and the health claims could shape how Flores is held before trial. Chinese business outlets and the official Xinhua agency all carried the report, attributing it to US media.
Key facts
- US media reported that Maduro and his wife will face new charges. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- CNN reported on October 7 that New York prosecutors are expected to charge Maduro and his wife over alleged abuse of Americans held by the Venezuelan government. [ 2 ]
- Flores was expected to appear on October 8 at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. [ 2 ]
- Her lawyers planned to ask that she be moved to house arrest before trial. [ 2 ]
- Maduro and his wife are held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. [ 2 ]
- Business Insider, citing Flores's legal team, reported that she has lost two teeth and 25 pounds and that her heart condition is worsening. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What the new charges will be and when they will be filed. The report says only that prosecutors are expected to bring charges over alleged abuse of detained Americans; no filing is reported.
- Whether the court will grant Flores house arrest before trial. The documents report only that her lawyers planned to make the request at the October 8 hearing.
- Details of Flores's health. The claims come from her legal team via a single report by Business Insider and have not been independently confirmed.