Cilia Flores, the wife of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was scheduled to appear in court, where her legal team will request her release from custody due to her heart condition, proposing house arrest instead.
Flores and Maduro have been detained in New York since early January, following a raid that occurred in the early hours at their home in Caracas. Both have denied charges in a legal case initially filed six years ago, which accuses them and others of being part of a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the United States. They face potential life sentences if found guilty.
The defense argues for case dismissal, citing their status as former foreign leader and first lady, which they claim grants them immunity. Flores's legal team has also highlighted her medical issues, stating that effective treatment is not feasible in jail and suggesting house arrest under constant supervision as an alternative. They claim she suffered permanent injuries during the capture, including scarring from being thrown against a wall or dresser. Flores, 69, reportedly lost 25 pounds (11 kg) in detention and may require heart surgery, according to her lawyers. They also noted she experiences dizziness, shortness of breath, and may have had a minor heart attack in July.
Prosecutors have opposed the release request, arguing that Flores poses a significant flight risk and danger to the public. They pointed out that she was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment, contradicting claims that she cannot receive adequate care in jail.
The U.S. government, under former President Donald Trump, described the raid as a "surgical law enforcement operation." Maduro has labeled himself a prisoner of war, condemning his capture as a kidnapping. Flores faces charges of involvement in a cocaine smuggling conspiracy alongside Maduro, who was Venezuela's president from 2013 until his arrest by U.S. forces in January. Her attorneys assert that she poses no flight risk, emphasizing her intention to remain by her husband's side.
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