The defense of the congresswoman and first lady of Venezuela, Cilia Flores, presented on Wednesday (9) a request to the US Court for her to respond to the case under house arrest for health reasons. Detained in the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, Flores was kidnapped by the United States government alongside President Nicolás Maduro during a military operation carried out on January 3.
The defense argues that, at 69 years old, the first lady faces serious heart complications and requires specialized medical care. According to lawyers, Flores has lost more than 11 kilos since his arrest and has experienced episodes of chest pain, arrhythmia and shortness of breath. On July 29, she had a 30-minute illness, characterized by intense pressure in the chest. She currently takes four medications daily and carries nitroglycerin to prevent heart attacks.
To facilitate the transfer to a private residence in New York, the defense proposed a strict custody regime, which includes 24-hour armed surveillance, conducted by the company Guidepost, which specializes in monitoring defendants released on bail, and which already has ties to the American justice system.
“Guidepost’s security services include providing bail monitoring and security for criminal defendants released to home confinement upon court order. Guidepost has acted under orders of federal courts in numerous security and bail monitoring cases. Guidepost was founded and is led by several former federal prosecutors, including those from the Southern District of New York, and employs dozens of former agents from agencies including the Secret Service, DEA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and New City Police Department York (NYPD)”, highlight Flores’ lawyers in the request addressed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The request for house arrest also implies the use of an electronic ankle monitor, passport retention, restriction of visits and monitoring of communications. All operational costs of the security scheme and legal fees will be paid by the defendants themselves.
Cilia Flores and Nicolás Maduro declare themselves innocent of the charges brought by the United States prosecutor and claim to be “prisoners of war”. The defense also requests that the case be dismissed based on the sovereign immunity of the head of state and the first lady. Federal judge Alvin Hellerstein scheduled a hearing for November 17 to consider the appeals, while the trial is scheduled for June 1, 2027.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
