The United States federal court rejected the request for progression to house arrest presented by the defense of the congresswoman and first lady of Venezuela, Cilia Flores. At a hearing this Thursday (8), Judge Alvin Hellerstein, of the Southern District Court of New York, ordered that Flores remain incarcerated at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center. The decision followed the position of the US prosecutor’s office, which claimed there was a risk of flight due to the first lady’s proximity to the Venezuelan government.
“With all the money at stake and all the contacts that Mrs. Flores has with the Venezuelan government and the people who make it up, the risk is serious,” said Judge Hellerstein, 92 years old.
The request from the defense of Cilia Flores, aged 69, was based on the marked worsening of her health since she was admitted to the prison unit. She lost 11 kilos in captivity, suffered attacks of ventricular tachycardia and intense chest pain, in addition to the loss of two molars and the need to take four medications daily.
To respond to the process on supervised release, the defense had committed to a strict monitoring plan with electronic ankle bracelets, passport delivery, restriction of communications and armed surveillance 24 hours a day by a private company, with all expenses covered by the defendant herself.
New accusations against the presidential couple
In parallel with the denial of house arrest, federal prosecutors in New York filed a modified formal indictment against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. The new document charges the couple with the crime of conspiracy to commit torture against Venezuelan and American citizens in State custody, between 2013 and 2026.
According to prosecutors, the Venezuelan government used arbitrary arrests and physical and psychological abuse to repress the opposition and maintain power.
The new charges are added to the already existing cases for narcoterrorism and arms and drug trafficking against Maduro and Flores. The defense of both fully refuted the allegations and reiterated the innocence of the accused before the court.
History of the process and violation of international law
The case against the Venezuelan leaders stems from the military operation carried out by the United States Armed Forces in Caracas, on January 3, 2026. On that occasion, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were captured in their residence and coercively taken to New York, in an action denounced by the Supreme Court of Venezuela and by international jurists as a political kidnapping and a direct violation of the Charter of the United Nations.
Since the beginning of their captivity in the United States, Maduro and Flores have declared themselves innocent and claimed to be prisoners of war. The couple’s lawyers are asking for the criminal action to be annulled based on the sovereign immunity of the head of state and first lady, a prerogative established by customary international law.
The court in New York scheduled the consideration of preliminary motions to dismiss the case for November 17th, while the trial on the merits remains scheduled to begin on June 1st, 2027.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
