Venezuela's Maduro, wife hit with new US torture charges

The United States on Thursday filed new torture charges against ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, bolstering a mounting criminal case against the pair held in US custody.

Ousted Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds a copy of the Venezuelan constitution while he speaks during a meeting with members of the Venezuelan diplomatic corp after their arrival from the United States, at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela January 28, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Maduro and Flores already face drug trafficking and firearms charges in the United States after they were snatched from their Caracas compound in an extraordinary US military raid in January.

A new court filing shows both are now further charged with conspiracy to commit torture against victims, including US citizens, in Venezuelan detention -- with prosecutors detailing alleged waterboardings, rapes and beatings.

Torture was allegedly used to "intimidate, harass, and neutralize their opponents, including through kidnappings."

Source: Citizen Digital