Maduro and Flores charged New US torture allegations

Oct 8

ABC's Aaron Katersky reports new federal torture charges in New York against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, including alleged torture of political opponents and at least three Americans. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald describes alleged murder threats, electric shock, asphyxiation, starvation, punishment cells, beatings and rape. Katersky recounts prosecutors' allegations about the Americans' abuse and injury, says all three have been released, and quotes Maduro's lawyer denying all the new charges. The prior U.S. capture is brief context; the allegations are not findings of guilt.

DD India reports an additional U.S. count of conspiracy to commit torture against Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores on Thursday, based on accusations they tortured political opponents to retain power. The report distinguishes this new count from the drug-trafficking charges they already faced. The allegations are charges, not findings of guilt. RTVE's October 8 bulletin also reports new torture/repression allegations, describing murder and threats against opponents. It calls Flores's drug-trafficking charge new while saying Maduro already faced that charge; DD India describes drug charges against both as pre-existing. This procedural wording difference remains source-attributed and unresolved. Neither broadcast establishes guilt; RTVE's short bail-refusal clause remains in the complete story without becoming another occurrence. ABC's October 8 court report directly airs U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald describing alleged repression through murder threats, electric shock, asphyxiation, starvation, punishment cells, beatings and rape. Katersky describes prosecutors' allegations involving at least three Americans, says all three have been released, and reports Maduro's lawyer denying all the new charges. This adds direct prosecutorial allegations and the denial without resolving the earlier broadcasts' procedural wording difference or establishing guilt.