Maduro’s Wife Denied Release Amid Health Claims
Cilia Flores, wife of Venezuelan leader Maduro, seeks release from U.S. custody citing health issues, but judge denies request.
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Cilia Flores, the wife of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, has been denied release from U.S. custody after claiming she has lost two molars and over 25 pounds while imprisoned. A federal judge in New York rejected her request for home detention, citing concerns over her potential to flee or pose a risk to public safety.
Medical Claims and Legal Battle
Flores and her attorney argued that she should be allowed to live in a private residence in New York to receive proper medical treatment. She cited a worsening heart condition, which she claimed was exacerbated by the use of pepper spray during a fight in her housing unit. However, federal prosecutors countered that her release would pose an ‘extreme risk of flight and danger to the public,’ and that she could be taken to a local hospital for necessary treatment.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein dismissed her request, stating that Flores’s condition had not worsened significantly since her initial appearance in January. ‘For whatever it’s worth, her appearance today is no worse and perhaps a little better than when I first met with her on her arraignment,’ he remarked.
Broader Charges and Political Background
Flores is charged with conspiring to commit torture against Americans, including allegations that an American citizen was subjected to beatings and electric shocks during detention in 2022. She also faces charges related to the importation of cocaine and weapons, with Maduro additionally accused of narcoterrorism.
Flores played a significant role in Maduro’s administration, serving as a key adviser and reportedly accepting bribes in 2007 to broker a meeting between a drug trafficker and Venezuela’s National Anti-Drug Office director. Her political career began by supporting Hugo Chávez, whom she helped secure his release from prison in 1992.
Flores and Maduro were captured by U.S. forces in January 2023 at their home in Caracas, marking the start of their detention. Their ongoing legal battle underscores the broader tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, with both individuals facing serious charges that highlight the complex political and legal landscape of the region.
Source: Daily Wire
