CNN: US to charge Maduro and wife over alleged torture of detained Americans
In short
New York prosecutors are preparing new charges against Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores over the alleged torture of Americans held in Venezuelan prisons, CNN reported citing sources, according to Russian outlets. Interfax, citing CNN, said the announcement could come as early as Thursday, October 8, and that the charges relate to the detention of more than a dozen US citizens during Maduro's rule.
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The US will bring new charges against Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, CNN reported citing sources, according to RIA Novosti, RBC, Kommersant and Interfax. RBC, Kommersant and Interfax said the charges would be brought by New York prosecutors in connection with the alleged torture of Americans held in detention in Venezuela. Interfax, citing CNN, said the announcement could come as early as Thursday, October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the sources cited by Interfax, the new charges relate to what the US regards as the wrongful detention of more than a dozen US citizens in Venezuela during Maduro's rule. Kommersant and Interfax reported that investigators were also considering charges against several more people; Interfax said this concerned alleged involvement in the torture of Americans. No names were given. [ 3 , 4 ]
Maduro and Flores have been in US custody since January, Kommersant reported. The outlets describe their removal differently: Kommersant said US special forces abducted the couple in January and brought them to New York, where they were charged with narco-terrorism, while Interfax said the US carried out a military operation at the start of 2026, formally because Maduro was wanted in the US on drug trafficking charges. RBC and Kommersant refer to Maduro as the former president of Venezuela; Interfax calls him the president of Venezuela arrested by the US. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Interfax reported that the trial of Maduro and his wife is set for June 1, 2027, and that they face life imprisonment if a jury finds they took part in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the US. The documents contain no statement from US prosecutors on the reported new charges. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The reported charges would add allegations concerning the treatment of detained Americans to the drug case Maduro and Flores already face in New York. Kommersant and Interfax, citing CNN, said investigators were also considering charges against several more people. The report rests on unnamed sources, and the documents contain no confirmation from US prosecutors.
Key facts
- CNN, citing sources, reported that the US will bring new charges against Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to the CNN report, New York prosecutors will bring the charges in connection with the alleged torture of Americans detained in Venezuela. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Interfax, citing CNN, reported that the charges relate to the alleged wrongful detention of more than a dozen US citizens in Venezuela during Maduro's rule. [ 4 ]
- Interfax reported that the charges could be announced as early as Thursday, October 8. [ 4 ]
- Investigators were also considering charges against several more people, according to the sources cited. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Maduro and Flores were taken from Venezuela by the US at the start of 2026 and are in US custody. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Interfax reported that Maduro and Flores go on trial on June 1, 2027, and face life imprisonment if a jury finds they took part in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the US. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- CNN reported, citing sources, that the US will bring new charges against Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The new charges reported by CNN relate to the alleged torture of Americans detained in Venezuela and would be brought by New York prosecutors. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Charges against several more people were being considered, according to the sources cited. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Maduro and Flores were removed from Venezuela by the US at the start of 2026. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether US prosecutors have confirmed the new charges. All four outlets attribute the report to CNN and its unnamed sources; no official US statement appears in the documents.
- When the charges will be announced. Only Interfax reports that an announcement could come as early as October 8.
- How many Americans the charges concern. Only Interfax gives a figure, more than a dozen US citizens.
- Who else could be charged. Kommersant and Interfax say further people may be charged but name no one.
- How the outlets describe Maduro and his removal. RBC and Kommersant call him the former president of Venezuela, while Interfax calls him the president of Venezuela arrested by the US; Kommersant says US special forces abducted him, while Interfax describes a US military operation.
- The nature of the existing charges. Kommersant says Maduro and Flores were charged with narco-terrorism in New York, while Interfax says Maduro is accused in the US of drug trafficking.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 7: RIA Novosti reports, citing CNN, that the US will bring new charges against Maduro and his wife. [ 1 ]
- October 7: RBC reports CNN's account that New York prosecutors will charge Maduro and Flores over the alleged torture of arrested Americans. [ 2 ]
- October 7: Kommersant reports the CNN account and says investigators were considering charging several more people. [ 3 ]
- October 8: Interfax reports, citing CNN, that the charges could be announced as early as that day. [ 4 ]