Maduro and his wife plead not guilty to torture charges in New York

During the hearing, Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein informed the defendants that the fifth formal charge of the case had been modified, and they would be tried again for these new charges. For her part, Flores declared herself "completely innocent" of the new accusations.

According to documents presented by the federal prosecutor, Maduro and Flores are responsible for running a repressive system in Venezuela that inflicted various forms of torture on several dozen victims, including three Americans. The defendants also face drug trafficking charges.

The lawyers from both sides agreed to a modified schedule to allow for the presentation of additional documents related to sovereign immunity arguments and motions seeking to have the charges dismissed. A hearing scheduled for December 17 will be dedicated to these discussions, while a final pre-trial conference is set for June 2027.

Maduro and Flores waived their rights under the Speedy Trial Act to ensure a thorough examination of relevant documents. The court set a tentative trial date for June 14, 2027.